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LECTURES. 



O N 



Primitive Chriftianity : 



I M 



)0CTRINE, EXPERIEIfCE, WORSHIP, DISCIPLINE, 
AND MANNERS, AS IT APPEARED IN THE 
CHURCH AT JERUSALEM, IN THE 
^. TIME OF THE APOSTLES. 

"^"^ ALSO 

,.6N THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 



)N THE FAITHFUL IN THE DAYS^^ Mj^l^'j^(^j^^ 

INTERSPERSED WITH ^"^"^^ll^i'. V 

NOTES, REFLECTIONS, and ADDRESSED/ 

Vith a View to awaken a becoming Zeal for the Com- 
munion of Saints, in Order and Love. 



By benjamin W A L L I N. 



And exhorted them all, that with Purpofe of Heart th^ would 
cleave unto the Lord. Ads xi. aj. 



W I L M I N G TON: 

LINTED FOR JOHN BOGGS, JUM. BY BONSAI. AND NlLF.S, 
IN MARKET-STREET. l8ci. 




C E. 



STPl HE S E Leisures are the fubftance of what I de- 
J^ livered ibme years ago; many of which were com- 
poled on a requeft for publilliing two voknnes on a variety 
of fubjg£ls, containing thofe here prefented the Reader. 
I foon found the undertaking interrupt me in the more 
important duties of my office, and therefore laid it afide, 
with little or no expe£lation of reafTuming the defign ; 
but laft Summer, being called off, for a feafon, from my 
ftated miniftrations^ I revifcid the manufcript, and went 
forward with the work, which Providence gave me ^liir- 
ther opportunity of purfuing, by laying me under a par- 
tial confinement, through a caulalty, under which my life 
was mercifully fpared ; thus it was finiftied. And if my 
attempt* to improve this occafional leifure fbould in any 
degreepromote the kingdom of God, I (liall have reafon 
to rejoice iti the affliction, and adore his wifdom and pow- 
er, whofe pleafure it is to bring good out of evil. 

Thanks be to God, the churches have reft, and liberty 
of confcience is preferved by our gracious fovereign the 
King, and his Parliament, who are over us under the moft 
High, unto whom we are more efpecially indebted, who 
view the dodrines and precepts of fcripture in a light dif- 
ferent from the popular opinion, and are obliged to prac- 
tife accordingly. May this invaluable privilege be im- 
proved, by walking in the fear of' the Lord, as the primi- 
tive diiciples, in Judea and Samaria, after the firftpcrfc- 
cution, that in like manner, through the comfort and ope- 
rations of the Holy Ghoft, we may abundantly increafe. 



IV 



PREFACE. 



The profane and immoral condu£b of many, of every 
rank, in the nation, may juftly alarm us ! We are noto- 
rioufly given to pleafures, at a time when Providence 
calls us to mourning and fafting ; witnefs the cries of the 
induftrious poor, under a long continued fcarcity of alnioft 
every kind of provifion, &c. but the ignorance and diCor- 
der of many, who by their holy profeffion, fliouid be as 
lights of the world, and the fait of the earth, is ftill more 
threatning. What intercourfe with heaven is held in pri- 
vate, I leave ; but, in all appearance, family devotion is 
much negle£led, nor will it comport with the manner of 
life in fal*»ion with moft ; and with refpe£l to focial reli- 
gion of a more public nature, it is notorioufly flighted ; 
the pious, of every name, lament a growing negleft of 
particular chriftian communion in the land. The multi- 
tude, whofe god is their belly, and who break the fabbath 
continually, in purfuit of fenfual delights, more and more 
iill the roads and public-houfes, inftead of attending the 
houfe of the Lord, while the hearers of the word, in ge- 
tieral^ regard not the peculiar inftitutions of Chrift. In 
the national church, every native, who is fprinkled by 
her minifter, is confidered a member, and as fuch, on a 
tcllimony of comjjetent knowledge, faith and fobriety, 
entitled to confirmation by the biQiop, and through his 
hands to the table of the Lord ; yet how few claim the 
privilege I And what excufe can be made for Diflenters, 
who feparate under a notion of zeal for the purity of wor- 
fhip, and at the fame time negleft ordinances they allow 
to be of divine authority ; neverthelefs their number in 
communion is comparatively Imalli yea, in fome inftances, 
itismelanchly to fee how little a church is covered with 
a large congregation or audience I It may be queftioned, 
with grief, what people under heaven, fo^ generally omit 
the principal diftinguifliing rites of their religion, as. thofe 
who call themfelves chriftians, not excepting them who 
pafs under the venerable and glorious name of Proteftants ; 
ftrifily fpeaking, there is but little feljowfliip among them, 
in gofpel-order, according to their own particular fenti- 
jnents^ The Lord's-fupper, that criterion of fellowfliip, 
in which we commemorate the fufFerings of the Saviour, 



PREFACE. V 

(vhofe atonement is the ground of our hope ; a feaft vvhich 
he has commanded his difciples frequently to keep till he 
comes ; alas, how is it in a manner laid afide I Can we 
think it was thus when a law was ena£ted to difqualify 
perfons, who had not taken the facrament at church with- 
in a few months ? Surely the communion-table was tben 
more frequented in the nation than now ; and, can we 
refie£l without blufhing, on the ihameful omiiiion of this 
principal teft of our obedience to Chrill I 

But, why do I trouble the Reader about the Commu- 
nion of faints, in this or the other particular form ? ^^m^ 
are fallen in a day when many devoutly difclaim it. It^ 
is now very common to make light of ordinances, and 
even for ferious perfons to talk as if they valued them- 
felves on being of no denomination of chriftians ; if a man, 
fay they, loves Jefus Chrift, or a preacher fcts forth the 
mercy of the Father in him, we have no concern about 
his form of religion; yet they<:ry up the martyrs, many 
of whom might have faved their treal'ure and blood, had 
they made no confcience of the authority of Chrift in his 
houfe. The upright will deprecate a mere name, under 
any form, however agreeable to the dilates of fcripture, 
but if a man intends by his being of no denomination, that 
he regards not the manner of fervid e appointed by the 
Lord ; where is his religion ? They who blame an ad. 
herence to peculiar modes, and boalt in their freedom to 
at variety in religious fervice, do well to confider, that 
there is certainly a right way of worlhip, prefcribed by 
the fole King of faints. I may innocently miftake the 
fenfe of his order, but indifference about it, can be no 
proper evidence of my devotion to his will. Indeed if it 
be a matter of no importance how God is worQiipped, the 
voluntary fufferings, exiie, and ruin of innumerable per- 
fons and families, who gave ample proof of their real pi- 
ety, andalfo of their good underllanding, was the height 
of folly and madnefs ; yea, and flill more, the orders of 
the fanduary by our Lord and his infpired apoftles, in his 
name, are impertinent, which no fober perfon will admit. 
The truth is, that to worfliip God in the way that he hath 



vt 



PREFACE. 



appointed, is an abfolute duty under every difpenfatlon; 
Jehovah alone is the obje£l of worfliip, and it is his pre- 
rogative to dire6l the manner in which his fervants ftiall 
wait upon him; this is left with Jefus, the head of the 
cburchj who before his efcenfion, charged his miniifers 
with teaching the people to obferve all things whatever 
he hath commanded them, to the end of the world, which 
includes, if not principally intends, the orders of his 
houfe ; fo that while the world (lands, his difciples are to 
be taught to Vv'-orlliip in the particular way he has pre- 
fcrrbed, and no other, but how this confifts with an indif- 
ference about the mode of religion, is hard to conceive. 
Some reprefent the order of fervice as only the garb or 
drefs of religion : be it fo ; it Qiould be remembered, that 
there is an uniform eftabliflied by the infinite wifdom of 
our divine lawgiver, which belongs to the obedience of 
faith, and which cannot be defpifed, without affronting 
the Majefty of heaven, pouring contempt on the authority 
of the Son of God, and danger of fuperftition. 

It is an allowed criterion of piety, that we efteem thofe 
who fear God of every name, and take plealure in the 
fpread of his gofpel. If Chrift is preached, and the pow- 
er of godlinefs prevails, by whomfoever, or in whatever 
particular form of profeflion, his minillers and people re- 
joice ; yet, if judicious ; not fo but that wherein a man 
appears defe^ive, in any do£lrine of the gofpel, or article 
of inftituted worftiip, they muft wilh him to know the 
way of the Lord more perfedly, and confequently, rather 
in meeknefs point out his miltake, than join him in his 
error ; and, furely^ my love to thofe who differ fpom me. 
in fome points of chrillianity, may confift with a confci- 
entious regard to every appointment of my Lord. Cha- 
rity and truth arc eflential, and never to be feparated. 
That love which abounds in knowledge and in all judg- 
ment, will be fmcere, inoffenfive, fruitful and abiding, and 
is much to be defired. In a word, that notion of charity, 
that renders the fubjeft indifferent about any thing which 
helsperfuaded to be the will of Chrilt, is falfe and per- 
nicious ; it tends to captivate the minds of men from the 



PREFACE. vil 

authority of God, and fap the foundation of all true reli- 
gion, it is therefore dangerous when, under any pretence, 
perfons are taught to be unconcerned about the appointed 
form of worfhip ; it fliould rather be commended to every 
one to fearch the fcripture, and keep to that which his 
confcience dire^ls, and regard not the cenfares of men. 

Another thing which eclipfes our glory, is this, namely, 
the little concern of many, who have a name in the 
churches, to underlland the nature, or pradife the duties 
of their facred covenant with one another in the Lord ; 
hence they cleave not together, but arc rather averfe to 
the unity and order which are appointed, and needful to 
anfwer the purpole of particular fellowfliip ; this deftroya 
the foundation of godly difcipline, from whence alone can 
be expeded the purity and mutual advantage to be hoped 
|br in chriftian fociety. 

It is gratefully acknowledged, that notwithftanding thefe 

defers, tlieve is one thing prevailing, efpecialiy in the 

capital cities, which is highly commendable; many copy 

after the firft difciples at Jerufalem in a rich liberality, on 

every occafion ; this bountiful fpirit is not confined to any 

particular fed, but reigns among all ibrts of people, to 

the honor of the age, but to the fliame of thofe who are 

not. to be moved by the mod ftriking and popular example ; 

may this hopeful fymptom, under all our juft complaints, 

continue and become univerfal, that a blefling in ftore 

from on high, being poured out upon us, we may revive 

and flourifli again I but at prefent we have to bewail our 

many backflidings in other refpecls, with the tokens of the 

divine difpleafure upon us ; alas the fcarcity of able and 

acceptable minifters ; how few the inftances of conver* 

fion ! and how little comfort and joy in our affemblies ; 

while many wander, or mourn as a Iheep without a fhep- 

herd, the ordinances of the fanduary are but in too many 

inftances as dry breafts, and a mifcarrying womb! Under 

tl>efe fad circumftances, fhall it be tho.ugiit unfeafonable, 

that we advert to the fimplicity and zeal of the firft chrift- 

ians, with whom the Lord dwelt, that following the ori- 



vm 



PREFACE. 



ginal pattern of piety and brotherly love, we may in like 
manner rejoice in his prefence and bleffing ? 

To thefe vflluable ends, and for the help of young and 
ordinary chriftians, I drew up the following papers, in 
accomplifhing which, I have confulted feveral writers in 
this and the century paft, from whom I have found myfelf 
obliged, with due refectl, to differ in feveral inftances, for 
I write to pleafe no man, and at the fame time would give 
no juft offence to any who are otherwife minded, nor will 
it offend the ingenuous, that 1 have freely declared my 
thoughts on every point, as it fell in my way j this liberty 
is granted, when the rules of decency are not tranf- 
greffed. 

My title will, I hope, be allowed, and not deemed a 
magifterial air, to which I have as little inclination as 
pretence. What led me into this choice, was the man- 
ner in which thefe pieces were exhibited before they went 
to theprefs, namely, by reading them over to fome chrifl- 
ian friends in ftated or occafional affemblies ; fo that they 
are truly and properly Le£lures, I wilh they were more 
correct j but, having difcovered no capital error, I rely 
on the fenfe and goodnefs of the Reader to re£lify mif- 
takes, whith are not very numerous* As to the con- 
tents ; it is at leaft highly probable that fome will find 
their fentiment, fpirit or conduct difapproved, but I am 
unconfcious of introducing an article with a defign to re- 
fled on a fmgle perfon or particular fociety, much lefs 
have I rejoiced in myfelf; on the contrary, my own great 
deficiency has been the occafion of feveral rebukes to be* 
found in this piece ; and, permit me to fay, that if my 
own foul is not warned by thefe meditations, it will come 
fhort of the defire of one. who is deeply convinced of the 
importance of taking heed, left after hav^ing preached to 
others, he himfelf fliould be a caft-away. 

I fliall only add further, that I have endeavoured to 
diilinguilh the things which are peculiar to the churchy 



PREFACE, 



IX 



before her order was compleated, au intimation of which 
IS a mark of ignorance and impofture, from thofe in which 
ilie is an example to future generations. I have likewife 
attempted to point out the caufe of the declenfions wa 
mourn, and the motives and means of recovery, together 
with the difpofition, and duty of thofe who fear God in 
a degenerate age ; with what fuccefs, the Reader will 
judge ; his prayer, however, is defired, that this imper- 
fed effay may not be in vain, on which I prefume, and 
lubfcribe myfelf his friend and fervant in the Lord. 



[B] 




SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



RE V. JOSEPH AYDEL07 , 
Milford. 
Levi Adams, Chiftiana Bridge. 
Jonas Alrichs, Wilmington. 
Jacob Alrichs, do. 

Jamei Adams, do. 

John Adams, New-Caftle. 
Dr. Archibald Alexander, do. 
Cornelius Armftrong, do, 

William Armftrong, George-Town 

Crofs Roads. 
Robert Allifon, Cheftcr county. 
Selah Andrew, Caroline county. 
Capt. Emmanuel Adams, Mifpilion. 
Abfalom Adams, do. 

John Ay res, Baltimore. 
Dr. Thomas W. Ayrcs, Harford. 
Elijah Ames do. 

James Anderfon, New- Ark. 
William Anderfon, Chefter. 
Samuel Acclcs, Delaware. 
Thomas A{bury, Philadelphia. 
Frederick Axe, do. county. 

Ifaac Abrahams, cfq. Delaware do. 
Rev. David Auftin, Philadelphia. 
Jeffe Alexander, do. 

B. 

Rev. Samuel Barr, Delaware. 
John Bail, Wilmington. 
Abraham Broom, do. 
Jacob Broom, efq. do. 
William Bryant, do. 
Bradun and Rice, do. 
Jacob Belville, New-Caftlc. 
Rev. Thomas Brooks, do. 
Rev. William Brewington, Virgi- 
nia, 3 copies. 
Jcffe Bertly, Pennfylvania. 



James Brifcoe, Maryland. 

Afhur Boyce, do. 

John Bounds, Laurel Town, 7 co- 
pies. 

Curtis Beauchamp, Caroline. 

Peregrine Brifcoe, Elkton. 

Henr;' Bennett, do. 

John Bex^nett, Delaware, 

Vinfon BelTivicks, Mifpilion. 

Curtis BeiTwicks, do. 

Clement Brown, do; 

Henry Bowman, do. 

Edward Bowdon, SufTex. 

William Burnefton, Cheftertown. 

William Barroll, efq. do. 

Jonathan Bready, efq. Centerville. 

James Bateman. do. 

John Blake, Eafton. 

Thomas O. BuUett, efq. do. 

Daniel Blaney, Port-Penn. 

John Bates, do. 

William Boftick, Dover. 

Charles Berry, Erederica. 

Richard Britton, Harford. 

John Burnham, jun. Baltimore 
county. 

Jofeph Bofwell, do. 

John Brown, Delaware. 

Rev. John Bcnfon, Suffex. 

Jofliua Boycc, do. 

Capt. Benjamin Bartholomew, 
j Cheftcr county. 
! Major Thomas Booth, Delaware. 

John Beyer, Dover. 

Rev. Ifaac Braughton, Virginia. 

William Bell, jun, do. 

Daniel Benthal, do. 

Jacob Bilhop, do. 

John Bowcn, citizen of the worM 

William Booth, Baltimore. 



Xll 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Samuel Baxter, Baltimore county. 
John Bond, do. 

James Boring, do. 

Henry Brown, do. 

Major Samuel Broadaway, Cow- 

Marlh. 
James Bradford, Delaware. 
Robert Bryan, do. 

Paul Boughman, do. 
James Boggs, do. 

James Bones, Weft-Chefter. 
Samuel Burklo, Philadelphia. 
Margaret Beeks, do.. 
■William Bofwell, do. 
Martha Barnett, do. 
Kev. John Boggs, fen, Chefter* 

county, 6 copies. > 

Ifaac Bewley, Montgomery county. 
Bonfal and Niles, Wilmington, 30 

copies. 

C, 

Rev. William Chealy, Pencader. 

y^dam Crozer, Elkton. 

John Cazier, do. 

Robert Chalfant, Newlln Town- 

fhip. 
Jane Correy, Suflex. 
Benjamin Craft, Nanticoke. 
■William Craft, do. 

Ifaac Connell, Chefler-Town. 
John Cox, Queen- Anne's. 

Edward Clayton, Centerville. 

Thomas Coward, near Eafton. 

Janiec Cowan, Eailon. 

Thomas Comerford, Delaware. 

Hugh Clark, Frederica. 

John Corkey,fen Baltimore county. 

John Corkey, jun. do. 

Samuel Cooper, Baltimore. 

Nathan E.Clements, Queen- Anne's. 

"William Cooch, efq. Delaware. 

Dr. James Couper, Chriftiana 
Bridge. 

George Clark, Wilmington. 

Daniel Coleman, do, 

1 homas Clark, do. 

William Cook, do. 

John CroWjNew-Caftle. 

Thomas W. CiarU. do. 

John Clark, «'v. 



Aaron Cobourn, Chetler. 
Kichard Coalgat, do. 
Benjamin Coche, Alexandria. 
.Allan M. Chapman, do. 
Samuel Carliflc, Delaware. 
■ Mary Clark, ' do. 

^'oftiua Clark, efq. Hillfborough. 
A "lliam Crawford, Greenfborough. 
IV i .tthias Clifton, efq. Kent county. 
W\i Uam Cofton, Virginia. 
Pa'? ck J. Connaughly, Trap. 
Wv am Carman, Baltimore, ' 
Br^rtin Crofs, Anne- Arundel. 
William Culvers, Montgomery. 
George Carter, Cow-marfh. 
Edward Covington, do. 
Benjamin Corbin, jun. Baltimore 

county. 
William Chenoeth, do. 
Eliza Corbin, ' do. 
Thomas Cole, do. 

Jotxn CoUot,' Philadelphia. 
Daniel Cornog, Chefter county. 
Thomas Cornog, Delaware do. 
Richard Chambers, do. 



j John Dickinfon, efq. Wilmington, 

% copies. 
I George Walhlngton Dewces, Phi- 
] ladelphia. . .- 

{ Thomas Dolbey, Uwchland. 
j Thomas Davis, Chefter county. 

Jeffe Downes, Hillfborough. 

Henry Downes, efq. do. 

Alice Daughcrty, Newark. 

John Dulin, Virginia. 

John Duffey, Alexandria. 

Rev. James Davis, Tufcorora. 

William Dewees, attorney at law, 
I Philadelphia. 

Waters Dewees, Great Valley. 
I Rev. John Davis, Hartford. 
i Ifaac Davis, Delaware. 
I EHzabeth Dewees, Mifpilion. 

Jcdiah Davifon, Chriitiana 
I Bridge. 
I Alexander Duncan, New-Caflle. 

John Darragh, do. 

]oht\ Davis Queen-Anne's. 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Xlll 



Capt. James Dawfon, CentervIUe. 
William Dawfon, Eaflon. 
Thomas Davis, Queen-Anne's. 
Richard Dunton, Virginia. 
Rachel Darling, Kent-County. 
Daniel Dodge, Baltimore. 
Francis D. Luce, do. 
Ricliard Ducy, Anne- Arundel. 
Thomas Doney, Baltimore county. 
Thomas Davis, Cow-marfh. 
Catherine Davis, Philadelphia. 
Sampfon Davis, do. 

Benjamin Davis, do. 

James Dcmfey, Chefter county. 
James Davis, jun. Philadelphia, lo 
copies. 

E. 

y ,^';,; J ' John Elljs, Marcus Hook, 6 j 

James Eves, Delaware. 
James Earle, efq. Eafton. 
George Elliott', Virginia. 
Ruth Eynon, Delaware. 
James Englifh, Laurel Town. 
Daniel Evans, Uwchland. 
Jeremiah Evans, do. 
Owen Evans, do. 

John Edwards, Baltimore county. 
George Epaugh, do. 

Jofeph Eaftborn, Philadelphia. 
Rev. Ifaac Eaton, Chefter county. 



r. 



Robert Frame, Birmingham. 

John Filher, efq. Dover. 

Henry Frift, do. 

Rev. Ifaac Filher, Nanticoke. 

Caleb Fifher, Virginia. 

Richard Frifby, efq. Chefter-town, 

Maryland. 
Gt;orge Finly, efq. Queen-Anne's. 
( liarles Farrow, Ccnterville. 
Thomas Fitzgerald, efq. Port-Pe:>?:. 
Kfv. Jofeph Flood, Delaware, 6 

copies. 
Rfv. Gideon Ferrell, do. 6 

fcpics. 



Margaret Fletcher, Wilmington, a 

copies. 

James Felton, do. 

ChriftopTier Fields, Kent-county. 

William Foracres, do. 

John Torbert, Campden. 

Wafhington L. Finny, efq. Wil- 
mington. 

Rev. Adam Freeman, Montgo- 
mery county, Maryland, 

Joftiua Fracey, Baltimore county. 

John Fleetwood, Philadelphia. 

G. 

Charles Gibfon, Eafton. 
John Graham, N. W. Fork. 
Thomas Griffin, Delaware. 
James Gunby, -SuiTex county. 
Ambrofe Goflin, 'Furner's creek. 
Edxvard Godwin, Queen-Anne'*. 
Thomas Giles, Elkton. 
Francis Gotticr, do. 
John Gottier, do. 
John Griffith, Welfh-Tra<a. 
James Griffith, do. 
Givenny Griffith, Coventry. 
John Garrett, jun. Delaware. 
John B. CJaffaway, Anne- Arundel. 
Sarah Gaither, do. 

Nancy Gaither, do. 

John Gill, Baltimore county. 
Jacob Gruwell, Cow-marfii. 
John Gruwell, do. 

Hugh Gouriy, Philadelphia. 
Ann Grant, do. county. 

William George, efq. Frankt'ord. 
David George, Montgomery. 
Robert and John Gray, Alexandria. 

?I. 

James Haflet, Elkton. 
Zebulon Hanky, do. 
John Hayes, Wilmington. 
James Hebberd, Philadelphia. 
Thomas Hughlett, efq. Greeiiibo- 

rough. 
Jofeph Harper, Dover. 
Edmund Hitchins, fen. SufTex. 
;| William Hobbs, fen. do. 



XIV 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Peter HItchi»s, Suffex. 

Levin Hitch, do. 

Rev. Daniel Hancock, do. 

William Halley, Alexandria. 

John Horlburgh, €o. 

Andrew Heath, jun. do. 

Ba-vid Henderfon, do. 

P. Hei&ell do. 

"William Harper, Delaware. 

Alexander Hamilton, do. 

George Harmonfon, Virginia. 

Rev. Philip Hughes, Suffex, 6 co- 
pies. 

Richard Hambly, Chriftiana- 
Bridge. 

Archibald Hamilton, Wilmington. 

Stephen Hayes, do. 

John Hellings, do. 

Rowland Haghes, Maryland. 

Lydia Hatfield, Frcdcrica. 

William Harris, Chefter-town. 

Major R. E. Harrifon, Queen- 
Anae's. 

Edward N. Hambleton, Eafton. 

William Hambleton, jun. do. 

James Henry, Duck-Creek. 

Whiteby Hatfield, Fiedaica. 

John Hudfon, Milford. 

Benjamin Hampton, Chefter- 
county. 

Elizabeth Hallock, Baltimore. 

Sufanna Hudfcn, Maryland. 

Mofes Hill, Philadelphia county. 

Ifaac Hill, Delaware. 

John Hinfey, do. 



I. 



Rev. Samuel Jones, D. D. Lower 

Dublin. 
Rev. David Jones, A. M. Chefter- 

county. 
Rev. Horatio G. Jones, do. 
Rev. Thomas G. Jones, do. 
Rev. James Jones, M. D. Dela- 

v/are. 
Bennet Jones, Eafton. 
Rev. Jonathan Jerman, Jerfey. 
John James, Delaware. 
Jofeph Janvier, Chriftiana-Bridge. 



John Janvier, New-Caftlc. 

Henry Jones, Dorchefter. 

John Jones, do. 

Heath John, London-Trad. 

George James, M. D. do. 

John Ireland, George-town Crofi^ 
Roads.' 

Jolhua Jones, fen. Baltimore- 
county. 

James Jennings, Baltimore. 

Eliazur Johnfon, Worcefter. 

Henry Johnfon do. 

James John, Virdent. 

Jonah John, do. 

William James, Chefter-county. 

John Janvier, Cantwell's-Bridge. 

Jofeph Ifrael, efq. Delaware. 

John W. Irwin, Wilmington. 

JefTe John, Uwchlin, 

Hannah Jones, Philadelphia. 

Enoch Jones, Chefter-county. 

Mary Jones, do. 

Sufan Jones, Delaware. 

David Jackfon, jun. Philadelphia. 

David John, Pennfylvania. 

John James, Delaware. 

K. 

John Knotts, Queen-Anne's. 
Emanuel Kent, Baltimore. 
Ifaac Kell, Alexandria. 
I Peter King, Mifpilion. 
John Kean, Elkton. 
Col. Thomas Kean, "^^mington. 
Peter King, Delaware. 
Reuben H. Knight', do. 
John Keanby, Chefter-town. 
Charles Kimmcy, Milford. 
Dr. William B. Keene, Greenfbo- 

rough. 
Nancy Knott, Montgomery. 
John Keys, Cow-marfli. 
Jofeph Keen, Philadelphia. 
Jane Kelfe, do. 

H.nry Konkle, Chefter-county. 
Abraham King, do 3 copies. 
George King, do. 

Ifaac King, do"! 

Andrew Kingle, Philadelphia. 



SUBSCRIBERS MAMES. 



xr 



Rev. Francis A. Latta, A. M. Wil- 
mington. 

Edmund Lynch, Chefter-town- 

Clement Laws, Milford. 

George Lyna, Chriftiana-Bridge- 

Rev. John Ewing Latta, A. M. 
New-Caftle. 

Thompfon ard Lawrenfon, Mld- 
dletown. 

Andrew Lockhart, do. 

Caleb LufF, Mifpilion. 

Nathaniel LufF, fen. do. 

Philip Lands, Chefter-county. 

Robert Lemmon, M. D. Maryland. 

Alexander Lockheart, Nantmill. 

Samuel Lane, Baltimore county. 

Alexis Lemon, do. 

Zachariah Loveall, do. 
-n^i^-^^jjg Lemon, do. 

^\^'jliiam Loveall, do. 

Henry Leeke, jun. Montgomery. 

Catharine Loxley, Philadelphia. 

Nathan Layering, do. county. 

John Lavering, do. d». 

John Lile, Montgomery. 

M. 

Rev. James M'Laughlin, Hill-^ 

Town. 
Richard Mansfield, Elkton. 
Lewis Miller, do. 

Enos Miles, Uwchland. 
Robert M'G^y, Concord. 
WiUiam Morris, Chefter-county. 
Benjamin Marpel, do. 

Solomon Marihail, Virginia. 
Nimrod Maxwell, Campden. 
John Maddun, Somerfet. 
Capt. John Maguire, Dorchefter, 2 

copies. 
Mary Morene, Suflex. 
Robert Miners, Mifpilion. 
James M'Mechen, jun. Alexandria. 
Daniel M' Clean, d6. 

Hannah M' Cormick, Delaware, 2 

copies. 
Samuel M' Intyre, do. 

Arthur Mafon, Chriftiana-Bridge. 



Valentine M*Neal, Wilmingtop, 

Dr. jame<* M'Calmont, New-Caf- 
tle. 

William M*Kim, Centerville. 

John Maree, do. 

Samuel Mircts, Eafton. 

John Moody, Cantweirs-Brld<Tc. 

Ifaac Mcnough, Elk Forge. 

William M'Math, Harford. 

Jane M'Laughlin, WilmingtoH- 

Mofes M'Comeikey, Bakiaiote- 
county 

William More, dd. 

WiUiam Moody, Baltimore. 

Anthony Mabbitt, Anne-ArundeL 

oamuel Moore, Delaware. 

Ephraini Milman, Cow-marih. 

Abel Miller, do. 

Thomas Meredith, do. 

Rev. Samuel Meredith, MifpilioH, 

William Morgan, Delaware. 

John M'Leod, Philadelphia. 

Jofeph Marlli, do. 

Rev- Thomas IVEmiinger, Miffliii* 
county. 

William Mateer, Philadelphia, 

Sarah ^/lorton, Delaware. 

N. 

Jofeph H. Nicholfon, ef<i. Centef- 

ville. 
David Nicholas, do. 
Dr. Perry E. Noel, do, 
Andrew Naudain, Delaware. 
Charles Nicols, Mifpilion. 
Benjamin Newpher, Delaware. 
John Neal, Philadelphia. 
Charles Nice, do. county. 

O. 

Francis O'Daniel, '\\niminfrten. 
Peter O'Daniel, do. 

William Oukford, Philadelphia. 
Catharine Oinenfitter, do cpunty. 



P. 



Dr. Charles Price, Queen Anne"",. 



XVI 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



John Pettigrew, Milford. 

George Pratt, Chriitiana Bridge. 

Sarah Perkins, Cheltef-TowH. 

William Potter, Caroline. 

George Powel, Virgiliia. 

Abraham Pierce, Duck-Creek. 

Jofeph Pearce, Chefter-county. 

Abraham Phillips, do. 

Marmaduke Pearce, do. 

Arthur Pritchard, New-Market. 

Rhoda Parker, Milpilion. 

William Powel, Dover. 

Thomas Primrofe, Mlfpilion. 

John Pettit, S'idibury. 

Margaret Philips, Chefter-county. 

John Pennington, Elkton. 

Charles Nabb, and Jacob Penning- 
ton, do. 

John Patterfon, Wilmington. 

Jofiah Phillips, Uvvchland. 

Rev. John Pritchard, Baltimore 
county. 

Philemon Plummer, Maryland. 

John Price, Delavi^are. 

John Peek-worth, Philadelphia. 
John Perkins, Bucks-coun ty. 
Thomas Perkins, Delaware. 
Jonathan Phillips, Montgomery. 

Charles Pafcol, Alexandria. 

Nicholas Quin, New-Caftle. 
R. 

Rev. Thomas Read, D. D. Wil- 
mington. 

Alexander Robefon, New-Port. 

John R. Robinfon, Wihnington. 

Edward Roche, efq. do. 

Jofeph Robinfon, do, 

William Ruth, New-Caftle. 

Francis Redftrake, Salefn. 

Jehu Richards, Chichefter. 

Henry Robinfon, Elkton. 

David Recs, Duck-crock. 

WilUam Read, Accomack. 

Rev. Lev/is, Richards, A. M. Bal- 
timore. 

George Rces. Chefter-county. 



Joftlua Riddle, Alexandria. 

John T. Ricketts, do. 

George Reynolds, Delavvare. 

James Rofeberry, Queen-Annc'$ . 

Zachariah Roberts, do. 

Reliecca Read, Port-Penn. 

Molion Richards, Milford. 
I Barnabas Redman, Baltimore. 

John Redman, Delaware. 
j Rev. William Rogers, D. D. Phi- 
I ladelphia. ' 

I Richard Riley, efq. Marcus-Hook. 

Nancy Robei-ts, Philadelphia. 

Richard Robertfon, Chefter-toiin- 

Benjamin Reece, Pennfylvama. 
Samuel Reece, do. 

John Reece, do. 

Evan Reece, do. 



Peter Snyder, Cheftertown. ' 
Sv.fanna Sylvcfter, Centervillc. 
Thomas Perrin Smith, Eattonv 
Philimon Shefwood, do. 
Lambert W. Spencer, do. 
William Swan, do. 

Samuel Stevins, do^ 

Levin T. Speddcn, do. 
David Stewart, Port-Penn. 
Dr. Jofeph Sudler, Milford* 
Jonas Stoops, Saffafras. 
Rev. Flenry Smalley, Mi At Co* 

hanfey. 
Rev. William Staughtori, A. M* 

Burlington. 
Dr. E. A. Smith, Wihnington. 
Ifaac Stidham, do. 

George Sanders, Saffafras. 
Stewart Sandrows, Virginia. 
Samuel Stirk, Chefter-county. 
Peggy Stephenfon, do. 
Alexander Smith, Alexandria, 
William Smith, do. 

Robert Smith, do. 

Miles Standilh, Delaware. 
I Benjamin Stout, do. 
Jofeph Springer, do. 
Thomas Sinex, do. 

Sen. Sinex, do. 

David Stidham, do-. 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



xvn 



Jofeph Sater, Baltimore county. 
Henry Sater, do. 

John Story, City of Wafhington. 
John Swank, do. 

William Smulling, Accomac. 
Stewart Shorley," Worcefter. 
John Smith, Long-Marfh. 
James Swiggott, Greenfborough. 
James Schee, Dover. 
Dr. James Sykes, do. 
John Sample, North-Milford. • 
Ephraim Stoops, New-Caftle. 
William Stidham, efq. do. 
William Shannon, Chriftiana-bridge 
Samuel Springer, do. 
Richard Sexton, do. 

John Stockton, efq. Wilmington. 
Betty Story, do. 

John Smith, New-Caftle. 
Jacob Streat, Middletown. 
David Sparks, Saffafras, 
Dr. Alexander Stewart, Maryland. 
Polly Sappington, Anne-Arundel. 
Jacob Storms, Baltimore county. 
Benjamin Siar, do. 

Thomas Smith, Cow-Marfh. 
Benjamin Simmons, Delaware. 
Valentine Shaw, Philadelphia. 
Benjamin Stanton, Delaware. 
Hannah Shields, do. 

T. 

Jofhua Tagert, Eafton. 
Dr. Triftram Thomas, do. 
William Thompfon, Queen Anne's. 
Dr. John Thomas, Head of Chefter, 

a copies. 
Benjamin Talbot, Baltimore 

county. 
Harrifon Thomas, Virginia. 
James Thomas, Vircent. 
Thomas Ttftlne, Um chlan. 
John Tillotfon, Hillfborough. 
Nehemiah Tov.'nfend, Greenfbo« 

rough. 
George Truitt, efq. Campden. 
Dr. James Tilton, Wilmington. 
John Tobin, Head of Saflafras. 
oJimuelTaylor, George-Town Cvofs 

RoaJs. 

r 



Benjamin Thomas, Baltimore 

county. 
Abner Thurfton, Virginia. 
Lewis Thomas, Maryland." 
Taylor 3c Andrews, Wilmington, 

50 copies. 

U. 

Rev. Thomas Uftick, A. M. Phila- 
delphia, 6 copies. 



Rev. Jolhua Vaughan, Chefter 

county. 
Dr. John Vaughan, Wilmington. 
George Vanpelt, Duck-creek. 
Richard Vidkr, Philadelphia. 

W 

Rev. Peter Wilfon, Hights-Town* 
Efter Wilfon, Virginia. 
CaldweU Windfor, SufTex. 
Peregrine Wetherell, efq. Wil- 
mington. 
John Waugh, A. B. New-Ark. 
Elizabeth WIer, Red-Lion. 
William H. Wilmer, Centervlllc. 
Dr. John Wills. do. 

Philimon Willis, Eafton. 
John Williams, Milford, 
Reynear Williams, do. 
Robert Wilfon, Baltimore. 
j Thomas Watfon, George-Town- 
Jeffe Walraven, Wilmington. 

IWabaven Walraven, do. 
Dr. John Webfter, do. 

John Walker, Chriftlana-Bridge. 

John Wiley, New-Caftle. 

Ifaac Wayne, efq. Eafton. 
j John Watfon, jun. do. 
1 Enoch Wood, Kent-county. 
j John Wilds, do. 

Robert Walker, Accomac. 

Ihonras Walters, do. 
li Rev. Stc'vens Woolford, Derfei. 
i William Whitely, Caroline. 
\ Alargaret Welch, Bahimorc. 

^ ] 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



XVlil 

John Welch, Baltimore. 

George Welfli, do. 

Sarah Warfield, and Dinah Dorfey. 
Anne- Arundel county, Mary- 
land. 

James Warfield. do. 

PJuramer Waters, do. 

William Wheler, Cow-Marlh. 

Sylvefter Welfti, Chrifriana. 

William Whan, do. 

Caleb Way, Delaware. 

James Wiliiamsy-Philadelphia. 

Jofeph Wright, do. 

Mary Weed. do. 



Cornelius Wynkoop, M®ntgot^iery" 
Jofeph White, Chefter county. 
Mary Whiting,- do. 

Davis Whiting, do. 

y. 

Samuel Yarnall, Eallon. 
Rev; Benjamin Yoe, Milford. 
Titus Ycrkes, Roxbury. 
Elias Yerkes, Montgomery. 
Stephen Yerkes, do. 
Jonathan Yerkes, Philadelphia 
county. 



C b N T E N T S. 

BOOK i. 

Containing refle^lions on the death, Tefurre<5lion, afcen- 
fion, and exaltation or the Lord Jefus Chrid. 

L E c T U R F. I. 

AN Introdudion to the apoftle's difcourfe. The murder of Chrift 
imputed to the Jews ; His death foreknown and determined. 

PAGE I 
L E C T U R E II. 

Notes and reflections on Peter's addrefs to the men of Judea. 15 

LEG TU R E III. 

The refurredlion of Chrift, by whom. What is implied in loofening 
the bands of death. z6 

L E C T U R E IV. 

What to be underftood by a witnef?. Who are witnefTes of our L«rd's 
refu-rre6lion : Their credibility. 40 

LECTURE V. 

The Holy Ghoft a witnefs to the refurreiftion of Jefus : His teftimony 
in the believer appealed to by the apoflle, i John v. 10. confidered and 
proved. ■ ^z 

LECTURE VI. 

The afcenfion of Jefus : His feflion at the right hand of God. 66 

L E C T, U R E Vli 

The Father's concern in exalting his Son, who immediately receives the 
Spirit at his hands; with the noble end of his continuance on the 
throne. Rcfledi-ns. 78 



B O O K II. 

Being fome thoiip^hts on the apoftle's improvement and 
application of his difcourfe to the Jews on the day 
of Pentecoft. 

LECTURE Vin. 

Containing the Apoftle's addrefs to hh audience in general : His punc- 
tual dtfcription of the Saviour. The ehargc of his murder on the 



CONTENTS. xix 

Jews repeated. An earned exhortation to confider him as the Lord's 
Chrift ; and the convi6lions which naturally refult from fuch a per- 
fuafion. 90 

LECTURE IX 
Notes and reflexions on Peter's proclamation and addrefs In the clofe 
of his fermon to the Jews. XOP 

BOOK ill. " 

In which the wonderful fuccefs of the apoftle's firft fer- 
mon at Jerufalem is particularly confidered and im- 
proved. 

LECTURE X. 
Shewing the ftate of their hearts who fell under conviAion. By what 
means they were awakened; and the method they took for relief, no 

L E C T U R E XI. 

An improvement on the cafe of thofe who were convinced by the 

preaching of Peter on the day of Pentecoft. IZO 

LECTURE XII. 

The nature of evangelical repentance. What It Is to he baptized In 

- the name of Jefus for the remiflioH of fins ; and In what refpe<5t. the 

Holy Ghoft is given to them that believe. 130 

LECTURE XIII. 

The proniife on which Peter ralfes the expc6tation of the awakened 
Jews, upon their obeying the gofpel, briefly and fairly examined, with 
notes and refledlions on the whole of his reply to their anxious queftion. 

145 
LECTURE XIV. 

The converted Jews teftify their reception of the gofpel, In being bap- 
tized and joining the church. Notes on their vifible obedience to the 
faith. 160 

LECTURE XV. 

What included in a faving reception of the word, and the manner in 
which It is embraced. 1 70 

LECTURE XVI. 

The fource and fymptoms of the pleafure which attends a cordial accept- 
ance of the gofpel. The duty of thofe who embrace It to an immedi- 
ate external obedience, and the joy of true faith compared with that 
which may be found with an hypocrite. 179 



BOOK IV. 
Being an hiftory of the church in her infant ftate. 

LECTURE XVII. 
The conflancy and faithfulnefs of the firft difciplcs In their communion 
together, under a profieflion of chriftianlty, 194 

L E C T U R Y. XV III. 

The manner In which the primitive difciples lived together in the church 
at Jerufalem. 213 

LECTURE XIX. 

How the difciples at Jerufalem were employed, with praiflical notes on 
their condudl. 221 

L E C T U RE XX. 

The daily incieafe of the primitive church. 235 



XX CONTENTS. 

B O O K V. 

The early declenfion of the church from her original iim- 
plicity. 

LECTURE XXI. 

Introdudlion. The Lord's teftimony againft the dlfciples at Sardis. In 

what refpe6ls a church may be dead, notwithftanding fhe hath a name 

that Ihc liveth. The occafions and fymptoms of this dreadful ftate. — 

Motives to watch againft it. 259 

LECTURE XXII. 

The difciples at Sardis exhorted to repent : Their works are impeached. 
How the Lord appears a judge of what a people perform in his name. 
The meafures to be taken to reftore a church when declined. Reafons 
for attempting it, notwithftanding her things may be dying away. 274 

LECTURE XXHL 

A repetition of the Redeemer's call to repentance, with particular direc- 
tions ; and a threatning in cafe of difobedience. 290 

LECTURE XXIV 

The faithful diftinguifhed in a time of general defedlion, with the pro- 
mife of a glorious reward. 299 

LECTURE XXV. 

The honors decreed the believer in the day of Chrift ; being a defcription 
of his white raiment, the book of life, and likewife what is implied in 
not having his name blotted out of that book. 311 

L E C T U R E XXVI. 

The univerfal obligation of chriftians to attend to the voice of the Spirit. 

326 



BOOK VI. 

The condad of the faithful in the days of Malachi. 

LECTURE XXVII. 

The degenerate ftate of the Jews. What implied in the faints fpeaking 
often one to another; topics of difcourfe. Refledlions. 338 

LECTURE XXVIII. 

What included in thinking on the name of the Lord. His hearkening to 
his people's difcourfe, and book of remembrance explained. Refledli- 
ons. 3ja 

LECTURE XXIX. 
Lord of Hofts ; whence that magnificent title ; the day when he will 
make up his jewels ; and what implied in fo doing. 365 

LECTURE XXX. 

Chrift's people comparable with jewels ; their difperfion in time ; the cer- 
tainty of their accomplilhment at his conning. Reflc(5tions. 376 



t E C T U R E S 

ON V 

Primitive Chriftianity, 6cc. 



BOOK I. 



COKTAIN2NG, 

Refle6lions on the Death, Refurreftion, Af- 
cenfion, apd Exaltation of the Lord Jesvs 
Christ. 



LECTURE 1. 

An introdudiion to the Apostle's discourse — the murder of 
Christ imputed to the Jcvfs-^bis death for ekno^oin and 
determined, 

IT is pleafant and ufeful to behold the power and faith- 
fulnefs of God in fetting up the kingdom of his Son, 
It began under a famous fermon by Peter the apoftle at 
Jerufalem, on the day of Pentecoft, of which we have a 
full and particular account in the fecond of the A£ls. On 
this part of fcripture fome following Leflures are ground- 

A 



a LECTURES ON 

c(l ; which I ho[>e, by tlie blefling of God, will entertain 
and comfort the chriftiah -who reads them ; and if theyr 
ftiould fall into the hands of any one in a ftate of unbe- 
lief, I heartily wifli they may prove a means q£ convic- 
tion. 

Pentecoft, it h Known, w^g a feaft of the Jews on 
which they offered thefirlt-fruits of the field, Exod. xxiii. 
16. It is called, Deut. ?:vi. 10. "The feaft of weeks," 
being feven wee}cs f):opi the paffover ; and it isftiled Pen- 
tecoft, which fignifies the fiftieth, becaufe it fell on the 
fiftieth day after the feaft of unleavened bread, the ufual 
diftance between our Eafter and Whitfuntide. It has 
been remarked, that this fef^ival* happened on the firft 
day of the week ;' for this year it began on Saturday even- 
ing: So that on our Lord's-day morning, it might proper- 
ly befaid " to be fully come,'' ver. i- This was the day 
on which Chrift rofe from the dead, \^ and became the firft- 
" fruits of them that llept,'*' i Cor. xv. ao. And on the 
£^me chofen ciay the Spirit was poured out on the difei- 
ples, who immediately fpake in a variety of tongues, as he- 
gave them utEerance, to the amazement of all who heard, 
them. And thus the Holy Ghoft bare witnefe to the 
glory of their afcended Mafter^ and enabled them to pub- 
lifii his name in the world. In this manner it pleafed 
God to make way for the fpreadof the gofpel ^ not by a 
miraculous alteration in the hearers, but by furniftiing his. 
minifters, who were chofen from illiterate men, with an 
extraordiinary power of fp.eaking his wonderful works to- 
ail people in their own native language : this they did in 
a very large audience,, compofed orperfons providentially 
coUeiTied at Jerufalem from every nation under heaven,, 
ver. 5. Thus, as hath been often obferved, as the con- 
fufion of language at Bab^l divided, mankind^ and feparae- 
ed the world in general from tbe means of grace, where- 
by the true knowied^^e of God was loft; this vail was de- 

*Thus a$ Chrift fuffered at the feaft of tRc paffover he was glorified on-: 
the next great feftival of the |^ws, '>y>ich being in the funmer, wai at* 
tended b/numbers who otherwi'fc wQuld have been abfcnt. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 3 

lilroyedv and tfie nations tiirned from drtnefs to light, 
<t,hroagh .1:h6' gift of tong;ja:e!S in tfie cliuf ch. 

One ifi'igfe tiave expe(rted, thst every one who faw the 
aftonifiiing faiil, would have afcribed it to the power of 
;.God; biit ala5, what are the greateft miracles with hard- 
ened unbelievers ! It is not uncomniGn for fceptics to 
.plead, that they have never feen the like wonders perforni- 
ed which are produced in favor of .chriilianity, but experi- 
?ence hath fhewn, that no kind of evidemce,ho we ver ftriking, 
iCan remove the inveterate prejudices of men who oppofe 
ithemfeLves to the truth : '*■!£ they hear not the fcriptures, 
^" neither will they be perfiiaded, though one rofe from the 
•** dead," Lu^e xvi. 31.. And accordingl)^ in the inftance 
ft^fore ,1^ the' multitude marvelled; "they were amazed . 
and hi doubt, fa^'ingone to another, What nieaneth this?** 
3ut we read of i3one who were truly convinced ; on the 
fontrary, mariy of them mocked, and were even fo bale 
;as to i«ipute this preternataral volubility to the force of 
jDew wii>(^; fome have thought it incredible that any 
fhouldb^" foertremely abilird as to imagine that an excefs 
of drjnlcirig could enable the difciples to ipeak with' tongues 
{they underftood not before, and therefore fuppofe that 
"thefe fcd-ffers, being native Jews, as the next verfe declares, 
and not aGquainted with any dialed but that of their own 
country, the apoftks feeaied to tiicm as babblers ; but, 
why fhould any be fvirprized that a generation, who had 
been taught to reproach our Lord with calling out devils 
by Beelzebub, and who had afterwards crucified him as 
an impoftor, fhould be flupid and malicious enough, thus 
to apprehend, or mifreprefent this wonderful energy of 
the Holy Ghoft ? However, this is their charge : " Thefe 
men are full of new wine/^ 

To this flarider, Peter, {landing up with the eleven, and 
having intreated a hearing, replies, that it was but "the 
■^* third hour of the day," or Dine in the morning : this was 
the time of the daily facrifice, at which the Jews in gene- 
ral came fading, and at thefe feftivals they were accuftom- 
fid to abflain from wine till noon ;- it was therefore mod 



4 LECTURES ON 

unreafonable to imagine that thefe men were drunken* 
From thts pertinent remark the apoftle haftens to obferve^ 
that what they faw and heard was no other than what 
Joel the prophet foretold, by whom God faith, " And it 
" fiiall come to pafs in the laft days, I will pour out my 
*' Spirit on all flefli."By the laft days the prophet intended^ 
and the Jews themfelves underftood, the days of the 
Meffiah, when '* all flefh Ihould fee the falvation of God ;" 
for it is written, " that whofoever ftiall call on the name 
*< of the Lord, ihall be faved." The apoftle having ex- 
plained this appearance from fcripture, in faithfulnefs turns 
on thefe Jerufalem-fmners, and with a view to their re- 
pentance, boldly charges them with the murder of Jefus, 
and points out the light againft which they finned in flied- 
ding his blood, andalfo that their end was not obtained 
without the counfel of heaven, ver. 22, 23. " Ye men oi 
*' Ifrael,hear thefe words ; Jefus ofNa2areth,a man approv- 
*' ed of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and figns 
*' which God did by him in the midft of you, as ye yourfelves 
" alfo know : him being delivered by the determinate coun^ 
*' fel and foreknowledge of God,ye have taken,and by wick- 
" ed hands have crucified and flain.'* Thus, from a general 
report of certain falvation in Chrift to every one that be-^ 
iieves, which is, the tenor of the gofpel, his minilters are 
without referve to lay before finners their evil- and dan- 
ger, that obtaining mercy they may repent arid be fav- 
cd. ^ , . ._.-.-'■ 

From this introduction it appears that the apoftle di- 
rects himfelf to the Jews v/ho dwelt ai Jerufalem, and that 
they were prepared for his alarming, remonftrance, by his 
reafoning out of fcripture relating to Jefus whom they had 
crucified, and alfo concerning the effufion of the Spirit 
tit which they had ignorantly fcoffed ;; and this no doubt 
was fubfervient, by the bleffmg of God, to thofe painful 
conviftions under which many of them hereafter cry 
cut. 

Peter might have upbraided them as Stephen did on 
another occafion, chap. vii. 51. "Ye ftiff-necked and 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 5 

" uncircumcifedin heart and ears, ye do always refift the 
'" Holy Ghoft I" They deferved to be ftiled a perverfeand 
abfurd getieration, who had no regard to reafon or truth ; 
but behold he accofts them as the people of God, and un- 
der a title which was to their honor, *'.Ye men of Ifrael." 
Inlfa.' xli. r4. the Lord thus addreffes his people, " Thou 
*'-worm Jacob:" Not in eonL6mpt, but in compafhon he 
rpeaks in this manner, to let them know, that though in 
themfelves, andaccording to their own apprehenfion, they 
^ere, as Jacob' their Father, greatly afflided and threat- 
ened, helplefs and mean as a Worm; neverthelefs he^ 
their mighty Redeemer, would help them, and their ad- 
verfaries fliould' be as nothing: But Peter's defign was 
to fhew the regard he had for the Jews, while he fpared 
not to cenfure their folly and wickednefs, and according- 
ly heftiles them "men of Ifrael.'* And under a more re- 
fpe6lful chara^ler he could not befpeak them ; yet what 
tould more highly refled on their conduct ? Great was 
the honor and advantage of being a defcendant from Ifrael, 
that renowned Patriarch ; in this they might have glori- 
ed, had they behaved as became their eminent anccftor ; 
on the other hand, their bafenefs in the crucifixion of Je- 
fus, and blafpheming his difciples, who were endued with 
the Holy Ghoft, appeared in proportion to this their high 
chara£ler, and the privileges they enjoyed; They were 
Ifraelitesjandmany of them, it is probable, leaders of the 
people, to whom were committed the oracles of God, and 
who profelfed to be waiting for the Mefliah, and the effu- 
fion of the Spirit,'which aggravated their condu£l ; and no 
doubt this manner of addre is wasdefigned the more deep- 
ly to afFe6l them with a fenfe of their guilt : With the 
lame view the prophets frequently, under the fame chii^- 
ra£ler, call on the degenerate Jews to repent. Hofea xiii. 
9. "O Ifrael, thou haft deftroyed thyfelh'' And again, 
chap. xiv. i, '* O Ifrael, return unto the Lord thy God ; 
** for thou haft fallen by thine iniquity." In thefe, and 
other like places, this backfliding people are ftiled Jsrnely 
as I apprehend, at leaft among other things, to fhew how 
unworthy they a£ted in departing from the Lord ; and it 



^ 1 E C T U R: E S N 

muft be acknowledged that this ^??asaii excellent means of' 
,convi£lion. 

The apoftle proceeds, and craves their attention, *' Hear 
*» thele words ; " which, in connexion with what went 
before, runs to this purpofe, q. d. " Oye men of JLfrael; 
*^ you fee how unreafonable it is to fuppofe, that thefe 
" perfons are drunken, or to imagine that the excefs of 
" new wine fhould enable them to ^3eak in this variety of 
^-^ tongues : this ability proceeds from the Spirit, whicl^ 
"the prophet foretold ihould be poured out- in the days 
'^ of the Mefliah ; now I have fomewhat to fay ^vhich neatr 
*' ly concerns you, I befeech you therefore patiently to 
"■ hear me." Note, it is the univerfal and earneft defire of 
minifters, who feek the falvation of their hearers, that 
they attend without prejudice, that under a divine blefiing, 
they may convince then^ of error, a^d bring them to re- 
pentance. 

But, what are thefe words ? They are words, the hesVf 
ing of which would make their ears tingle ; yea, vvords 
which hereafter appear to make their hearts tremble : 
Words by which the divine Spirit raifed thofe convicti- 
ons that pierced and pun^ually wounded their confci-' 
ence. The apoftle might well be anxious for an hear- 
ing, for there was reafon to expe£l that thefe bold tranfr 
greffors would ftop their ears againft the heavy charge 
he was about to lay on them. For what impenitent 
criminal will liften to the voice of his accufer ? but with 
God all things are poflible ; he can draw the ear of the 
moft obdinate finner, as a means of convincing his heart, 
at his pleafure, and his hand is evident in the prefent 
cafe, fince, otherwife, why Qiould they not behave in the 
fame manner as with Stephen the martyr, mentioned be- 
fore? However, what Peter delivered in general, related 
to their having crucified the Lord, notwithftanding they 
had i^can the fuUeft tefcimony of God in his favor, it 
coniains his deicription of rlie Saviour, the ftriking evi- 
dence afforded thefe Jews of his divine m/iifion, their con- 
cern hi his death, and the counfel of God in refpeft of this 




PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITf. 

iimaEing feene of iniquity and blood ; from whence in 
Ve dfnwn a variety of ufeful obfcrvationa. 

In defcribing our Saviour, whom thefe men had flainy 
the apoftle ftiles him " Jefus of Nazareth." Now Nazareth 
we know was a poor and fmall eity on the borders of Zebu- 
lun, and held in the utmoft contempt. Hence faith Nathan^ 
hi to Philip, ** Can there any good thing come out of 
" Nazareth ?" John i. 46. But that which men difeftcem is 
frequently honored by God: This poor defpifed city was 
the place where Joieph and Mary refided, and confeqnent- 
\y where the incarnate Son of God dwelt a confiderable 
part of his time in the flefti ; yet, alas I what are the moft 
iiftingui filing external advantages I Tbere was no connexi- 
on between the place of our Lord's abode and a parti- 
cipation of his grace ; This city v/as no Icfs notorious for 
hs perverfe infidelity than its very great meannefs ; fo 
hardened were the inhabitants, that on our Lord's preach- 
ing to them, and upbraiding them with their incredulity, 
they rejedied him with the utmoft indignation, and in 
wrath attempted to deftroy him, Luke iv. 28, 29. And 
s^ccordingly he foon left them becaufe of their 'unbelief ; 
fo th^t there is reafon to fear that the generahty of thofe 
^mong whom the Saviour of the world lived more than 
thirty years, perifhed in their fins. Thus perfons may 
be liighly exalted in an early enjoyment of the richeft 
means of grace, and in the pride and wickednefs of their 
heart fmit deep into hell, under a fatal oppofition to the 
eounfel of God ! 

But to return i. It may feem ftrange at firft, that Pe- 
ter, who appears at this time to have a realizing profpedl 
of the Redeemer now exalted at the right-hand of God, 
ihould mention him under this diminutive charafter j but 
when weconfiderto whom be was fpeaking, and the de- 
fign he was upon, we (liall admire the propriety of this 
chofen defcription. He is. addreffing the Jews, with a 
view to convince them, that this fame Lord, of whom. J[c>? 
el pxophe^ed, and ip whom alqne falvatig^i is to be fo^ndl^ 
was DO other than that very perfon whom they had v^ 



8 L E C T U R E S N 

righteouily llain. Now what could be more to his pur- 
pole than to fpeak of him under the identical terms by 
which he was defcribed in the writing over his head whea 
he hung on the crofs I Which is known to run thus ; 
*' Jeius of Nazareth the King of the Jews," John xix, 
19. q. d. that fame Jefus, whom ye in contempt call Je- 
fus of Nazareth, is no other than that great perfon of 
whom the prophet fpeaks, in calling on whofc name the 
fubje£l ftiall befaved. Befides, In defcending to this de- 
fcription of the Saviour, the apoftle is not aftiamed to 
own his Lord in that very chara£ler under which he was 
defpifed and perfecuted to death ; and he likewife afcends 
with the greater advantage to his glorious ftate in heave% 
An Inftance of courage and wifdomwe may jiilVly id^ 
mire I 

The next thing which Peter remonftrates is, the am- 
ple and undeniable proof offered the Jews of our Lord's 
divine miflion. This was admirably calculated to aiFe£l 
them with a fenfe of their folly, which was a main thing 
in view ; it was as full and as ftrong as could poflibly be 
given: "A man approved of God," Jefus was approved, 
and fometimes applauded by men ; his mighty works and 
holy converfation rendered him, for a feafon, admired and 
followed as an extraordinary perfon ; but the Jews are 
called upon to reflcd on the undeniable and glorious tefti- 
mony they had received from heaven ; ♦' A man approved 
i' of God f, by miracles, wonders and figns :" The won- 
derful works by which the Father teftified of his Son ia 
the courfe of his miniftry were many, and known to thefe 
men. Thefe miracles were not done in a corner, or at a 
diftance, but openly and among them ; "which God did 
" by him in the midft of you," faith the apoftle, i. e. in 
your fynagogues, in the temple, and in places of public re- 
ibrt. They were not lying wonders, but miracles iudeed, 



fThe Greek words feem in ^is phice to convey the idea of works or 
tokens above or contrary to the'courfe of nature, and may be confidcred a^ 
a redundancy of cxprelTionj to Ihew the number and variety of thofc «I»az-? 
iiig tcIUsuonies gf % div^ie power manifeft by Chjift. 



PHlMiTlVE CHkl^TtANITY* ^ 

tlie reality of which no man could decently queflioii: iignjJ 
which were evident, and of which his enemies themfelve* 
were convinced ; and accordingly he adds, " Ye yourfelve^ 
' alio know ;" q. d. ",0 ye men of Ifrael, ye are witneffe^ 
' to the truth of what I declare, for tliefe divine work? 

* were performed in yoiir prefence 1 Did ye not daily be- 

* hold, in Jerufalem, tnany wonders and figns wrought by 
' Jefus, by whicli God approved him ? You cannot deny 

* it." Thus he appeals to their confciences, and many of 
them were deeply convinced on refle^lion, and forely 
wounded under a ieofe of their guilt, as will hereafter ap- 
pear. 

Having reprefented their perverfe incredulity in with- 
Handing fo clear divine evidence to the charafter of Jefus, 
the apoftle proceeds to the concern which the Jews had 
in his death. It was his great defign to convince them 
that they were guilty in (bedding the blood not only of 
an innocent perfon, but of killing the Meffiah, that being 
awakened, they might repent of this heinous tranigreiTi- 
on and all other iins, and call on his name and be faved ; 
he, therefore, fpares not to charge them dire£lly with 
crucifying and flaying the man whom God had approved, 
in which he is very circumllantial. 

He firftobferves that they took him.* "Him have ye 
'* taken." Now this may include their laying hands on him 
as upon a malefactor, with all the ill-treatment they gave 
him from his being apprehended to their nailing him on 
the crofs. Our Lord himfelf faid, Matt, xxvii ^^, '' Are 
•* you come out as againft a thief with fwords and Itaves ? '* 
In this manner they came with Judas their guide, and when 
they had, by means of the execrable traitor, found our 
Saviour in the garden, by his own permiffion, they feized 
him, and led him bound to his judges to be condemned, 
in order to which they fuborned falfe witnefs againft him ; 
and when he was delivered into their hands they impioufly 
infult and curfe him for an impoftor ; they mock, fpit upon, 
and crown him with thorns, and, bavins; unmercifully 

B 



lo L E G T U R E S O N 

fcourg^d him, thus mangled, they bring him with bittei* 
revili»gs up to mount Calvary : In a word, they treated 
the divine Jefus with all the contempt and cruelty which 
the malice of earth or hell could invent. In this vile 
manner the Jews apprehended and dealt with our Lord ; 
and thei'e is reafon to think that while Peter expreffed 
thefe words, '< Him have ye taken," fome individuals pre- 
fent began to refle£l with Ihame on their own concern in 
this wicked tranfa6lion. 

Then comes the charge of his death. «' Ilim ye have 
" crucified and llain.*' Crucifixion is known to be a manner 
of punifhment ufed by the Romans ; it was inflicted only 
on flaves, and that for crimes the moft infamous ; He 
that fuffered this kind of death bore f his crofs on his 
(houlders to the place of execution, where, being ftripped 
of his clothes, he was faftened naked unto it, and this 
was ufually, if not always with nails, attended with the 
caufe of his death written over his head, in capital letters. 
Now we know that this exa£lly agrees with the manner 
in which our Lord was treated by the Jews j fo that they 
dealt with him as with the bafeft of men' and the vile& 
of criminals ! Such was the rage and envy of thel'e Jeru- 
ialem-finners ; they thirfted after his blood ; their ma- 
lice prompted them to flied it in a manner the molt igno- 
minious and painful. He was crucified and llain indeed 
under a form of law, and by the hands of the civil magif- 
trate, which had a fpecious appearance, neverthelefs the 
holy and innocent Jefus was unjuftly cut off out of the 
land of the living, and his crucifiers are truly laid to kill 
liim, and eharged with his murder. A£ls iii. 15, chap, 
vii. 52,. compared. 

The means by which they flied the blood of the Savi- 
our, is the next thing which the apoflle remarks ; namely, 
*^ by wicked hands j^' for the underftanding of this, we ara 



f Not the whole crofs, but the Patibulum, or piece of timber that la^ 
rxofs the ctc& part which ftood fixed m the eaith, and o« which the arm* 
«1 thw crvninal wers ftretched. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. ii 

to remember the civil ftate of the Jews at this time ; they 
were now in fubje^lion to the Romans, under whom they 
enjoyed far greater privileges than a conquered people 
might expe6l j but it was the well-known policy of that 
famous ftate to proteft the nations they fubdued in the 
free exercife of their own religion, and accordingly the 
Jews were in this refpeft remarkably favored, infomuch 
that they were allowed to kill a Gentile, even though he 
were a Roman, who prefumed to enter and acfile their 
temple. On this pretence it was that fome went about 
to flay Paul, as appears by comparing A£ls xxi. 219. with 
chap. xxvi. 21. So highly were they indulged by -their 
heathen mafters ; they had alio a power to judge petty 
offences, and to infli^l lefTer penalties by their counfel 
where the high-prieft prelided in chief, but they could not 
judicially punifli any criminal with death. . This point in- 
deed, like mo^otlier articles hath been difputed, but 
itfeems evident from the inftance before us, the Jews had 
not the pov»'erof life and death ; as a learned and labori- 
ous writer J obferves. If in any cafe they had this au- 
thority, it muft have been in the cafe of our Lord, whofe 
fole charge was blafphemy, in afTuming the character of 
the Mefliah : it was therefore a point of religion in which 
the Romans, who, as hinted, gave their conquered fubjects 
full liberty, would not have concerned themfelves, had 
they in any cafe allowed the Jews the authority of capi^ 
tal punifhment, nor would a people fo fond of power, and 
I may fay, fo enraged againll Jefus, and determined to 
take away his life, have committed a caufe within their 
own jurildiftion to a foreigner, or left his execution to 
the will of the Romans : but that which one fliould think 
would fet it beyond all difputeip their own declaration to 
Pilate, John xviii. 31. When the governor bids them takq 
Jefus and judge him according to their law, which indeec\ 



I Dr. Lardiner's Credibility, vol. I. page 77. See alfo page 97, 154, 
"Whether the Jews had this power taken from them, or loil by their owa 
negligence, as Dr. Lightfoot afFerts. It is, I think, generally allowed 
that they enjoyed not this privilege forty years before the temple \:v'as 
deftroyed. Lardiner, vol. I. aoi. 



IX LECTURES ON 

they had already done, for they had' brought him in guil- 
ty of death, fee' Mat, xxvi. 66, John xix. 7. but it was 
pot in their power to execute this lentence. Hence the 
aiifwer is this ; " It is not lav^ful for us to put any man 
'* to death ;" and accordingly they brought him to the 
jydge, who though he was convinced of the innocence of 
Jefus, and knew that for envy the Jews had delivered hirn, 
yetfo bafe was this magiftrate, that through fear, or with 
a fmifterend, he yielded to the popular cry, and gave 
up this holy perfon to the will of thefe wretches,' 
fee Matt, xxviii. 18 — 24. Thus the Jews crucified 
arwl flew our Lord, not by their own, but by thai 
hands of the Romans ; thefe hands were thofe of Pilate, 
that wicked man and unjuft judge, and the officers and 
foldiers under him, who, being ftimulated by the voice of 
the multitude, flirred up by their leaders, were but too 
eager in the execution of his unlawful fentence. The 
Jews themfelves took Jefus, with their own hands intq 
which he was betrayed, and did unto him fpitefully as 
they could, but they could not put him to death ; this they 
brought about by means of the Roman civil power, wlio 
inoll unrighteoufly crucified him as a malefaftor; it i^ 
therefore truly declared, that with wicked hands, that is^ 
of others, they flew him, which thefacred hiftorian moft 
accurately placeth in his account, between the apprehend- 
ing and crucifixion of our Lord, according to the fa£l. 
Thus the fcriptu re was fulfilled, Pf. xi. 2» "The kings 
*' of the earth fet themfelves, and the rulers take cpunfel 
" together, againft the Lord and againft his anointed.'' 
And as Chrift came into the world to fave Jews and 
Gentiles, they were both concerned in putting him to 
death. 

But there is nothing in the whole of the addrefs more 
inftruaive or important than the divine hand in this affeA- 
ing event. The death of Chrift was no precarious or 
cafual thing, but fettled in the counfel of God, whofe 
undeiftanding is infinite, and who declareth the end froni 
the be^^inniu^ j this the apoflle aflerts j " iiim, being de* 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 13 

iivered ^ by the " determifiate ^ counfel and foreknow- 
ledge of God.*' The fame is confirmed and explained by 
Peter and John on anot^her occafion, A^ls iv. 27, 28. 
'^ For of a truth againfl: thy holy child Jefus both Herod 
** and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people 
*'' of Ifrael, were gathered together, for to do whatfoever 
f' thy hand and thy counfel determined before to be done.'' 
The word determined J, in this proof indeed differs from 
that in the pafTage we are upon, but the idea is the fame, 
and they concur to afcertain the predeftination of this 
great event. It was determined, i. e. fay fome it was 
written,' which no doubt is a truth ; thus faith our Lord, 
Luke xxii. 22. "'The Son of man goeth, as it is deter- 
" mined ;" and in Matt. xxvi. 2,4. in relating the fame, the 
facred hiflorian -ufes the phrafe "it is written;'' for the 
fame was both determined and written ; but we are not 
to refoive the determination of Chrilt's death into alimple 
predi<flion, as if it was determined in no other fenfe than 
as declared in the fcripture : things are not properly de- 
termined becaufe declared in God's word j on the contra* 
ry, they are foretold becaufe predetermined. The de- 
cree of God is the ground of prophecy, Which is no other 
than a revelation, as providence is the execution, of the 
divine will. Nothing can be plainer than that the blood- 
fhedding of Jefus was not only foreknown, but truly and 



* It has been fuggefled, that for particular reafons the Jews voluntarily 
Surrendered Jefus, though they might themfelves have put him to death, 
but we have already feen they had not this power, and Dr. Lardiner has 
proved that the Greek word in this place does not carry in it a yielding any 
civil authority or right, and fhewn that is ufed in the New Teftament 
for the a(fl: of private pcrfons who profecute, or bring any one before a 
court «f juftice in order to be condemned, and 1 think he has alfo entire- 
ly removed the moft plaufible pretence for this opinion. Sec Lardintr's 
Credibility, Vol. I. page 86. 

§ The original Greek fignifies to declare, as by definitive fentcnce,Rom. 
i. 4. or to ordain, or decree, as in Ads x. 42. where it is ufed to exprefs 
the divine ordination of Chrift to the office of judge. 

I To foreordain or predeflinate. Rom.viii. 30, i Cor. ii. 7. Eph i.5. 



14 L E C T U R E S O N 

properly predetermined by the moft High, wlio worketh 
»ll things after the counfel of his own will. And what 
iVter now preacheth concerning this point he afterwards 
wrote in his firft epidle, chap. i. 20. " Who," fays he^ 
meaning Chrift, '* was verily fore- ordained," i. e. to his 
fiifTerings and death, as appears from the context, " before 
*' the foundation of the world." To which agreeth Rev. 
xiri. 8. where he is ftiled, " The Lamb flain from the 
^'' foundation of the world." And this is the current of 
i'rripture. So then the delivery of the innocent Jeius 
into the hands of the wicked to be crucified, as I may fay, 
according to the known idea of the terms, was fettled in 
the definitive counfel of God from everlafting ; it was ^11 
fixed before in that adorable conftitutioii, the covenant of 
redemption, of which the Son of God is the Mediator and 
Surety ; and indeed his being delivered was in confequence 
of his uiKiertaking in that holy and gracious compadl., t® 
be the Subftitute of the people ; by which a juft and le^ 
gal foundation was laid, for his bearing their fuis in his 
own body on tire tree. 

This is the addrefs of the apoflle to the men of Judea^ 
who killed our Lord. After befpeaking their attention 
in a manner moft refpeilful, he plainly and faithfully re- 
monltrates their aggravated guilt, in prefuming thus to 
flied the blood of the innocent and holy Jefus, in defiance 
qf all the miracles which God did by hini in the midd 
©f them, as a teftimony of his cfaara6ter ; he pofitively 
charges his murder upon them, though they could not 
themfelves perpetrate this horrid facl, but did it by the 
hands of other wicked men, who put him to death, and 
then he declares that he being thus delivered into their 
hands to be crucified and llain, was determined before in 
the counfel of God : which might juftly alarm tbem, and 
made way for a further account of Jefus in proof of his 
being the Mefliah ; an addrefs which, by the blefling 
of God, proved a n^eans of the converfion of many who 
heard him, and who, as it afterwards appears, cried out 
in dillrcis, under a fenfe of their periOiing condition, and 
being inllrueUd, gladly embraced the word of the gofpei. 



PRIMITIVE GHRISTIANITV. 15 

Many other glorious things are fpoken of Jefus who waft 
crucified ; but, before we proceed, it may be ufeful to 
paufe, and refled on feveral points which ftand fupported 
by this remonftrance of the apoflle to the Jews i and this 
will be attempted in the following le£lure. 



LECTURE ir. 



Containing notes and refleSiwns on Peter's address t^ 
the men of Judea, 



TH E foregoing Le£lure, contains the apoftle's higli^ 
charge on the Jews with the murder of our Lord, 
in prevailing on the Romans to crucify him, and the fore-i 
knowledge and counfel of God, in refped to this fcene 
of iniquity and blood, in the prefent the reader is defu'ed 
to confider the following articles, which appear from the 
account, and nearly concerns us 1 

I. The infufficiency of every kind and degree of evi- 
dence to convince fche unbeliever, and bring him to re^ 
pentance. This has already been hinted, and is a point 
fully proved in the inftance before us. The abfurd light 
hi which the fcornful and prejudice4 Jews placed the won- 



,6 LECTURES ON 

derfal ejfTc^ls of the Spirit, in their iKifair, If not raalici^' 
ous imputation on the difciples, who fpake by his inEu« 
ence, evidently flie\ts their infuperable perverfenefs ; an<i 
their crucifying Jefus, notwithflanding the repeated and 
undeniable teftimony from heaven in bis favour, is no lefs 
a proof that all external means whatever are in them- 
felves infufficient to open the eyes, or turn the hearts of 
men enflaved to fm and unbelief. What could be more 
ftriking, or more adapted to convince the Jews that Jefus 
ivas the Chrift, than the variety of miracles and wonders, 
by which God approved him in their fight ? Yet, behol4 
this feries of fupernatural works are in vain I thefe men! 
were filled with envy and malice againll our Lord, for no 
other reafon than that of his afTuming the character of 
Meffiah ; and, being left to their own will, nothing could 
prevent their fliedding his blood. In like manner all un- 
believers are hardened ; however their circumftances may 
differ, fuch is the power and deceit of the flefh, that thofe 
who are in it, are proof againft every means of convi6lion, 
even miracles themfelves cannot turn them. The carnal 
mind is enmity againft God, and will ever find anexcufe 
for perfifting in oppoution to his will ; it is not fubjeA^l to 
his law, and defpifes his grcice j and he that is under its 
dominion, if left to himfelf, will withdraw from the clear- 
eft light ; he will either prevent, or by fome means ftifie 
convictions, for he is a rebel in heart, and in nothing is 
he more determined than againft a fubmiflion to God and 
his righteoufnefs : fo ftoutis corruption in the unregcne- 
rate mind that nothing can remove it ; mere moral fuafion 
is by no means fufficient ; yea, if reafoning out of tiie fcrip- 
tures is attended with miracle on miracle, and prodigies 
without number, unlefs a divine power is exerted in the 
finner, even this, or whatever elfe of an external nature, 
can be .conceived, will certainly fail of bringing an infidel 
to repent. Again, 

IL We fee that the condemnation of thofe who finally 
reje(ft the Lord Jefus Chrift, will be in proportion to the 
evidence afforded them of his divine miffion, and the means 
of grace they have enjoyed. This awful truth ftiinds con- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 17 

firmed by the inftance before us. The abundant tefti- 
mony Ged gave to his Son, in the midfl: of Jerufalem, is 
urged by the apoftle on the Jews who crucified and flew 
him, to ftiew the aggravations of their guilt in that mur- 
der. Let hini that in wantonnefs defpifes or negle£ls the 
falvation of God beware ! Think, O c^relefs and fcorn- 
ful tranfgreflbr, what a judgment awaits thee, if thou 
die in unbelief 1 The impenitent man^ unto whom the 
gofpel has been preached, and in whofe days it hath flou- 
riflied, (hall hereafter find that every fermon he has heard, 
and every iriftance ofconverfion he hath feen, will rife up 
and witnefs againft hini, at the' tribunal of Ghrift ; and 
how wilt thou endure the wrath of the Lamb, when he is 
revealed from heaven in flaming fire, to take vengeance 
«n them who obey not the gofpel I But^ 

III. How aftoniihing is it that the lufl.s of men, fliould 
be overruled to fulfil the purpofe of God 1 To make evil 
anfwer a good and valuable end, is a noble effe£l of infinite 
wiidora. A mofl; illuftrious inftance of this appears in the 
gofpel of Jefiis, in which we behold the chofen redeemed 
to life everlafting by his fufferings and death. Herein is 
thewifdom of God in a myftery indeed! He hath taken 
occafion, from the moft ftiameful and hateful evil, to yield 
the brightefl: difplay of his love, and of all his perfections ; 
for in no point of light doth the glory of God fliine with 
that fplendor as it doth in Chrift, in whom the Father hath 
righteoufly magnified his grace, in advancing his people to 
a bleffednefs, in fome refpeds fuperior to that which would 
have refulted from innocence itfeif. The fame adorable 
wifdom is feen in accomplifliing this great defign, by the 
crucifixion of Jefus. Behold, the vileft paflfions of men 
fulfil the counfel of God! their lufts prompt them to do 
what no one could with reafon expe(!il; for by the moft flag- 
rant inftance of wickednefs, they ftrangely bring to pafs 
tlie defign of him againft whom they rebel. How unlikely 
was it, that Jefus of Nazareth, who in every tittle lb 
plaialy anfwered the prophecies of the Mefliah, or that 
he who was Co circumftantially pointed out in the fcrip- 

C 



jS lectures on 

tiire, fliould be put to death by the people, to whom were' 
committed the oracles of God! It is wonderful indeed, 
tliat the men, who had feen undeniable teftimonies from' 
heaven to the authority of Jefus^ Ihould neverthelefs fet 
themfelves to prove him an impoftor, and be fatisfied with 
nothing lefs than his blood ; and, ftill more aftonifliing, 
that in this bale attempt they fliould put him to death, irt 
the very manner the prophets defcribe I It had been eafy 
for the Jews to have taken away the life of our Saviour, 
in a method contrary ta the account given of the Meffiah, 
and thereby thrown a doubt on his character: but behold 
they are diligent to do to this Jefus whatever the fcrip- 
tures declare ftiould be done to him they expe(^ed, as if 
they defigned to prove him that very Chrift he profefled 
himfelf to be. Who could have thought that the injuftice^ 
folly, hatred and cruelty of thefe wicked men, was fub- 
fervient to the juftice, wifdom, love and mercy of God i 
*' O the depth of the riches, both of the divine wifdom 
" and. knowledge V* " How unfearchable are God's judg- 
" ments, and his ways pail finding out I" Surely his 
counfel Hands, whoever fins, or whoever fuffers I If the 
vileft of lulls, anda condu6l againft dl humanity andright- 
eoufnefs, in a people profeffing the fear of Jehovah, could 
have defeated the purpofe of heaven, it had now been the 
eafe ; but la, Jefus is " delivered by the determinate 
eounfel and foreknowledge of God." Could not the Al- 
mighty have reftrained the wicked, that they might not 
have found their hands ? No doubt he could have inter- 
pofed and defended the innocent from blood: it was 
therefore his will to permit it, but for an end worthy of 
himfelf, that grace might reign through righteou-fnefs in 
the falvatit^n of fmners through the death of his Ion. — • 
And indeed it is unworthy of God, to fuppofe that he will 
luiFer any kind of evil which fliall not prove an oecafion 
of good to his gloi^r. But then, 

ly. We afe to note, That the decrees of God, which 
are infallible in their event, entirely confift with the free 
agency of man who a^s under them. All things are pof- 
ftble, yea, and G^-ituin in confcq.uence of the divine coun- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, 19 

lei. Thus there was a neceflky of infallibility in the death 
of Jefus ; i. e* it could not but fall out as God had deter- 
mined, that Ghrift fliould be delivered into the hands of 
the wicked) and be crucified and (lain in the manner de^ 
fcribed ; neyer,thelefs there was no neceffity of carapullion^ 
whereby the freedom of their aftion who killed him, was 
interrupted. The decree of God is not properly the caufe 
of any thing that comes to pafs, but of tlie futurition of 
its fubje£l : Andhisdecree of permiiiion, in refped of the 
fm of the Jews, had no phyfical or moral influence on 
any of the people concerned, each one acled freely, and 
of choice. The pretence fome have againft the divine 
decrees, as being inconfiftent with man's free agency, is 
groundlefs, and no other than a cavil, fince nothing is 
clearer on record, than that our Saviour was delivered 
and crucified according to the determinate counfel and 
foreknowledge of God, and at the fame time it is ecjually 
plain, that tlie Jews mofl freely and wilfully flew him. 
And thus it is always in refped of the finful a£lions of 
men, as onf; obferves, " they iin as freely as if there was 
^' no decree, and yet as infallibly as if there was noliber- 
f' ty ;" fo then God is not the author of fm, though men 
fm according to the divine foreknowledge and counfel.. 
In a word, on the one hand, there is not the leaft colour 
for the imputation of evil to the Almighty, who decrees 
to permit fm as the occafion of good for his own glory, 
nor, on the other, of excufe for the tranfgreflbr, who, 
when he finneth, a6ls freely, not to fulfil the will of God, 
but to gratify his own. It follows, 

V. That the moral evil of thofe fuiful a^lions, which 
^re permitted by the counfel of God, are juftly imputed 
and involve the tranfgreflbr in guilt. The wickednefs of 
a criminal is not the lefs, becaufe his unrighteous adl was 
foreknown, or fell in with the divine purpofe, fince his 
afftion was free, and comjnitted to fatisfy his own carnal 
inclinations ; his wiqked conduft is no other than wilful 
rebellion, and deferves to be punifliecl. It was a righte- 
ous thing with God to pour out his long threatened ven- 
geance on the rebelUous Jews, who in that generation fill- 



20 



LECTURES ON 



ed up the meafure of their iniquity, in crucifying his Son. 
Sinners may now prefume, impioully to blafpheme the de- 
crees of the Almighty, or think to Ikreen themfelves un- 
der them, but their mouths will be flopped, when God 
fliall judge the fecrets of men ; then, alas, too late they 
will be convinced, and fee that they have deceived their 
own fouls, and that the reward of their doings is juft ; 
when they fhall go away into everlafting puniftiment 1 — ■' 
And further, 

VI. It ihould not be omitted, that men are chargeable 
with the evil that others commit at their inftigation. The 
aflaffin is not more truly worthy of death, than he that 
procured him to takeaway the life of his neighbour, i. 
Sam. 22. 21. Saul, faith Abiather, hath flain the Lord's 
priefts. Uriah the Hittite was flain by the fword of the 
enemy, yet David who ordered hira in the front of the 
battle, with a view to his death, is juftly charged witl^ 
iliedding his blood. In like manner, thefe men of Ifrael, 
though they did not, for they could not with their own 
hands, put to death the Lord Jefus Chrift, yet having 
condemned him by falfe accufation, and procured the pow- 
er by which he was crucified, are truly declared his mur- 
derers. The Jews were no lefs guilty than the Romans, 
and under the imputation of that guilt, each one con- 
cerned periflied, who obtained not remiffion through faith 
in that blood which he fhed. Thus we have reafon to 
conclude, that many will be condemned in the great an4 
laft day for crimes which they had not in their power 
themfelves to commit, but which, to gratify their lufts, 
they prompted others to do. O let us take heed that we 
are not the occafion, efpecially the wzT/w/occafion of other 
mens fins, for he that is fo (hall not be clear, but is juftly 
liable to the puniftiment due to the evil committed, Oncq 
more : 

VII. Note, it becomes the minlfters ofthegofpel, to 
be bold in reproving finners, and faithfully to remonftrate 
all the guilt that is evident upon them. Mankind are far 
more finful than they can apprehend, while in their natural 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 2I 

'Aate, fothat moft hearers lie under vain conceits, which^ 
if not removed, will prove their deftrudlion, and therefore, 
however it may be difreliflied by many, there is nted of 
infifting much on original and heart-corruption, the curfe 
of the law, and the certain and eyerlafting perdition of • 
him that dies in his fins, left the blood of fouls is requir- 
ed at our hands : but, befides the general ftate and con- 
dud of men fmce the fall, ^yhich calls for plain dealing, 
there are often many particular evils in practice to be fet 
home on the confpience ; when thefe become notorious 
and habitual, we ought after the example of the apoftle 
in this cafe, with all due refped to their perfons, to tell 
the guilty of their crimes, It requires great wifdom and 
courage duly to warn them who prefume, efpecially thofe 
>vho are of a diftinguilhed charader : we are not to be 
irude, nor yet on the referve. Peter, you fee, accofts 
thefe Jerufalem-iinners, as men of Ifrael, yet fpares not 
to charge them with the murder of Chrill : in like manner 
a miniftermay be civil, and, at the fame time, fincere ; he 
may be depent, yet faithful. Men are not to be flattered 
in their iniquity to their ruin, but, in love to their fouls, 
jninifters fhould cry aloud, and plainly remonftrate to 
iinners, hardened in their way, the whole of their wicked- 
nefs, with a view to awaken and convince them, that ob- 
iaining mercy to believe on Jefus they may be faved. He 
that lives after the flefh, under any form of religion, may 
be pleafed with the miniiter who difturbs not his courfe ; 
but, in the day of judgment, he will not look on that man 
as his friend, who hath covered his fm and foothed him to 
the lofs of his foul. Is any man tempted, through fear or 
private advantage, to connive at tranfgreflbrs, let him con- 
fider the heavy charge that will lie on every unfaithful 
teacher, when thofe who have deceived themJelves under 
him are finally condemned, and configned to the everlall- 
ing fire prepared for the devil and his angels 1 

Thefe notes on the apollle's remonftrance to the Jev^s 
deferve our ferious attention. The greatefl miracles are 
fnfufficient to convince the unbeliever ; his prejudices are 
jiot to be removed, by any kind or degree of evidence what- 



%% L E C T U R E S O N 

ever, fo that obje(9;ive grace or mere moral fuafon will 
never convert him ; yet the condemnation of them who 
obey not the golpel, will be in proportion to the evidence 
afforded them : It alfo appears, that the lufts of men are 
wonderfully overruled by infinite and adorable wifdom, to 
bring about the purpofe of God whofe holy and unchange- 
able decrees, though they infallibly infure the event of 
what is determined, perfedlly confifts with man's free agen- 
cy. A tranfgreiibr therefore is juilly charged \yith the 
evil he commits, ho\\ ever foreknown to the Almighty and 
fettled in his immutable counfel, feeing his a£lion is free : 
It is further to be remarked, that men are accountable, not 
only for the evil which they themfelves do, but likewife 
for every wicked aft performed by others at their infti- 
g9tion; and finally, from this example, minifters of the 
word, are led to confider, that it becomes them to treat 
their audience with every kind of refped due to their cha- 
ra6lerj and at the lame time, on no confideration whate- 
ver, to flatter any man in his iniquity, but freely to lay 
open the perverfenefs and crimes of the guilty, with a view 
to their being converted and laved. 

And now, my dear Reader, art thou not aftonifhed at 
the popular prejudice againft the do6lrineof predeftination? 
At this many ftumble through unhappy miftakes, and fee 
not the confequence ; but confider the current of Icrip- 
ture, and is it not ftrange that any perfon, above the cha- 
rafter of a DeiR, fhould be offended at a doftrine fo wel| 
I'upported by divine revelation ? And how can a man read 
■and credit what is declared on the death of Chrift, and 
with reafon rejeft it ? I fuppofe fome, who are fo unhap- 
py as not to endure this clear and fundamental truth, would 
ilartie, if it (liould be afferted that it becomes them only to 
blafpheme it, who would exclude the throne of the Al- 
migluy from under the heavens ; yet the obfervation is juli, 
for predeftination is the ground ©f providence. If the 
decrees of God exiil not, or his counfel Ihould fail, his go- 
vernment in the world would be at an end. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 23 

And what fliall the end be of them that obey not the 
gofpel of God ? Wo be to him who finally rejects the Lord 
Jefus Chrift ! If Jefus of Nazareth was approved of God 
to be the Saviour of the world, mod certainly God will 
difapprove and caft awa)^ the man who believes not on 
him. He that defpifeth this glorious Saviour, reje£leth 
the counfel of God to the lofs of life everlafting, and to the 
eternal ruin of his immortal foul. O carelefs fmner, who 
art tempted to content thyfelf fhort of an intereft in Chriltl 
was it determined that Jefus fliould be delivered, and by 
wicked hands crucified and flain ? It is no lefs the deter- 
minate counfel of God, that the man fhall be delivered 
into the hands of the judge, and be puniftied with everlaft- 
ing deftru£iion, who is found an unbeliever in the day of 
the Lord. Think not that Jerufalem-finneris alone were 
obnoxious to the vengeance of heaven becaufe of unbelief j 
for " except you repent you fliall likewife peridi." You. 
are not guilty with the men of Judea^ or like them charge- 
able with the blood- fhedding of Jefus; but is not your 
unbelief as heinous as theirs ? Yea, and more fo, if, as 
we have feen, the condemnation of unbelievers will be 
meafured by the evidence offered them. Since our Savi- 
our was crucified he is rifen from the dead, and hath fent 
down the Spirit of promife from the Father ; and in token 
of his power at the right-hand of God, his gofpel hath 
taken a marvellous fpread in the world; which, wath the 
ruin and difperfion of the Jews, and the appearance of an- 
tichrift, events clearly foretold by ChriR and his apolHes, 
adds greatly to the evidence given of Jefus, for they amount 
to a ftronger proof of his power and glory than even till the 
miracles performed in the midli of Jerufalem confidered 
by themfelves : So that unbelievers, in the pre lent day, 
refift, or negle£l ftronger evidence of the Mefiiah, than 
the menof Judea themfelves; and fliall not their guilt ex- 
ceed in proportion ? It is an alarming confideration 1 
Unbelief in them who crucified our Lord, was lefs aggra- 
vating than it is in thofe who now believe not, and it will 
be more tolerable for the men, of that generation who re- 
jected the only Saviour, than for thee, O Reader I if thou 



24 



LECTURES OT^ 



art difobedient. Take heed then that thou fall not into 
this fore condemnation I 

But I hope iTty addrefs is to one that has embraced the 
gofpel. And hafl thou, my Friend, received Chrift Jefus 
the Lord, and fubmitted thyfelf unto him? Adore dif- 
tinguifhing grace. The bell; of means, or the moft able 
inftrument, are incapable of producing this faith which is 
unto falvation ; much lefs is it owing to any previous 
good difpofition in thyfelf that thou haft obeyed. Be not 
offended when I fay, the Jews were not more averfe to 
Jefus of Nazareth than thy heart, through pride and un- 
belief, was naturally fet againft the righteoufnefs of God 
in him. Since *' the carnal mind is enmity againft God,'' 
where is the man who can fay, that left under the fame 
perjudices and temptations with them who crucified his 
Son, he (hould not have been guilty of his blood ? There- 
fore boaft not, but remember thou art indebted to grace^ 
and let God have the glory. Shun the appearance of 
thofe apoftacies, whereby fome, who, after a fpecious Ihew 
of chriftianity, " have crucified to themfelves the Son of 
" God afreili, and put him to an open (liame ;" and ftudy 
to (hew that thou art not of them who draw back unto 
perdition, but of them which believe to the faving of the 
foul. 

And (liould not this remonftrance of the apoftle to the 
Jews in Jerufalem, refpe(^ing the teftimony of God unto 
Jefus his Son, embolden thee, O believer 1 under thy pro- 
feifion of his name ? What folly and madnefs mull have 
been imputed to Peter, thus openly in the city where our 
Lord was crucified, to call thofe very men whom he charg- 
ed with his blood, to witnefs the wonders by which he 
was approved of God in their fight, could the fa£l have 
been denied 1 Yet we fee he didthus appeal, even to his mur-- 
derers, and no one gainfayed : Yea, fo evident was the 
truth, that, as we afterward find, thoufands were convinced 
and brought to the obedience of faith ; but was this morally 
poliible liad they queftioned the evidence referred to ? How 
confirming then is this to the chriftian ! Hear ye capti- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, 25 

oils Infidels, who defpife the Lord's Chrift ! If God did 
bear witnefs unto him by evident miracles, no doubt he is 
the Meffiah : and, admitting the truth of the hiftory, 
which cannot with reafon be refufed, we are as certain 
that thefe real and great miracles were indeed done by Je- 
fus^ as if our own eyes had feen him perform them. Bluih 
then, ye Deifls, and repent; but let the faithful blefs. God 
and rejoice, and not be aihamed of their hope. 

. From the example before us there alfo arifeth comfort 
to the poor and afflided, who truft, in the name of the 
Lord. Art thou fmali and defpifed, look unto Jefus j be- 
hold he was defpifed of men, but honoured of God I It. 
appears from the cafe of our Redeemer himfelf, that no 
contempt in life, or aggravating circumftances in death, 
will impeach the charader of the righteous, or leffen them 
in the eyes of their heavenly Father. Art thou tramp- 
led upon and reviled ? See in thy Lord, O believer ! a man 
may be low in this world, and little efteemed, yea he may 
be treated as the olF-fcouring of all things, under the vili- 
ble tokens of a divine approbation : but hath the man any 
reafon to fear or to be aihamed, however obfcure and re- 
jelled by others, who hath a witnefs from above, and is 
exalted in the favor of the Almighty? Chriftian, this is 
thy lot ; wait on thy Redeemer, and be of good courage, 
and think it not flrange that thou art partaker of his fuf- 
ferings : Fear not, he will fliortly bring forth thy righte- 
oufnefs as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day, , 

In one word. What then remains, but that every man,- 
fee to it, that he is accepted of God ? This can be attain- 
ed alone in Chrift Jefus, whom the Father approved by a 
variety of miracles, wonders and figns, his enemies them«« 
felves being judges, and who was delivered according to 
the decree of heaven, to be crucified and flain, " that he 
*^ might put away fin by the facrifice of himfelf." Wilt 
thou, my dear Reader, be happy ? Truft in this Saviour : 
BlefTed )& the man who is wa0ied from his fms in hi$ 
lloodl 

1 



a« LECTURES ON 



LECTURE III. 



^he resurreSlion of Christy by whom. What is implied 
in loosening the bonds of death. 



TH E m^nifeft defign of the &pt)ftle in imputing to 
the Jews the blood of our Saviour, in a perverfe 
oppofition to the teftimony of God, was to awaken them 
to repentance, that they might believe and be faved ; and 
^iccordingly, as a further means of conviftion, he pro* 
ceeds to ftiew, that this fame Jefus, whoni they had cru- 
cified, 'wasrifen again from the dead. This glorious and 
important event, on which depends our hope in Chrift, 
Peter declares with a freedom becoming a man who had 
feen with his eyes, had looked upon, and whofe hands 
had handled of the Word of life : he declares irt on his 
own teftimOny, with the reft of the apoftles, who were 
all prefent, ver. 32. and with a boldnefs which ftiews 
that he feared no contradi£lion, even from the Jews them- 
felves. And is not this a proof that the refurre£lion of 
Jefus was in fa£l believed by the inhabitants of Jerufalem, 
notwithftanding the abfurd ftory by which their leaders 
had ftiamefuUy attempted to deceive them? The account 
Peter gives of this wonderful and interefting fa<^, runs 
in thefe words : " Whom God hath raifed up, having 
*' loofed the pains of death ; becaufe it was not pollible 
*' that he fliould be holden of it," A£ls ii. 24. They 
contain the author of our Saviour's refurre6lion, who is 
God ; a periphrafe of this divine a^:, " having loofed the 
•J^ bands ofdeatl^i'' and a remark by which tlus biefle^ 



PRIMPTIVE CH'RISTIANiTY. 2$^ 

truth ftands confirmed ; " becaufe it was.not pofEble that; 
^' he fhould be holden pf it." 

Thefe. particulars, will lea4 us into the iublime, myfte-, 
r.ies of the gofpel ; in attending to which, I fhall pyrfue 
jthe following ir^quiries, namely. Who is that divine per-- 
fon unto whom the refurre^lion of Jefus is afcribed in this 
plar.e ; what is implied in his loofening the bands of death; 
ii.ud in what refpG<9;s it was imppffible that he flxould b^ 
hpldcnbyit? A^nd, 

Firstr, This adorable and important- event is afcribe^ 
to God., The refurre^lion of the dead is a fupernatural 
work, but it is not; impofli^le,. The Gentiles indeed, whq 
were without a w;iritten law, dif^erned not this truth; 
they were therefore without this hope in the world. 
Death was not in the original conftitution , of thijpgs, it 
came in by fin;, a deliverance from its ppwer muft there,- 
fore arife ftom the fovereign will of the ofTended Majefty 
of heaven, who. might, juftly have held.apoftate man in th& 
bands of eternal death. So that the knowledge of this 
truth depends. on divine revelation; And it muft alfo be 
confefled, that to an eye of fenfe there are unfufmouat- 
able difficulties 19 the refurre£bion of , the dead. If we 
view a corpfe, there is nothing in the nature of the obr 
jeft adapted or diipofed to revive, nor is there any ere- . 
ated power that is able to raife it again. 

Neverthelefs, the very heathen would-be without ex- 
cufe, who fliould fay that it is not in the power of God to 
quicken . the dead. Thus Paul reafons. with Agrippa, 
" Why (liould it be thought a thing incredible with you» 
*' that God fliould raife the dead?" That man's notion 
of a deity, muft be exceed.ing low and abfurd, who can 
queftion the polTibility o£a,relurredion with Gpd; it im- 
plies no contradi<^ion, nor is it the leaft- unworthy the di-t 
vine Being to efFe^l it. To the Almighty, whofe power 
and knowledge are infinite, it furely cannot be impoflible 
lior is raifing the deadinconfifteBt with his juftice, good 



a LECTURES ON 

nefs and truth, or with any of his adorable perfe^lions*. 
Blefled be his name, life and immortality are brought ta 
light through the gofpell It is eflential to the faith of 
God's eleft, to give him the glory of raifing the dead. 
Thus Abraham our Father, when he offered up Ifaac his 
fon, Rom. iv. 17. This was a noble inftance of faith. 
It being before any example of a refurre£lion. Indeed 
Enoch was tranflated, which might be an hint to the 
church that the power of death would adually be deftroy- 
€d by the feed of the woman, but as yet no man had been 
jaifed from the dead : And may it not with reafon be con- 
cluded, that the father of the faithful, who believed that 
the dead might be raifed, who faw Chrift's day and was 
glad, John viii. 56. was animated in his obedience from a 
jbelieving profpe6l of the Meffiah's future refurredionj' 

However, Chrifl is rifen, and God raifed him up. But 
who is intended I The refurredion of the dead is indif- 
ferently afcribed to Father, Son and Holy Ghoft : and 
accordingly the raifing up the body of Chrift is men-, 
tioned as his own a£t. " Chrift both died and rofe,*' faith 
the apoflle, Rom. xiv. 9. And again, i Cor. xv. 4.—- 
*' He rofe again the third day ;" and indeed he affumes 
It tohimfelfj John ii. 19. " In three days I will raife it 
*' up ;'' iHeahing, as the facred hiftorian declares, " the 
*' temple of his body.'* Thus the Son, who quickeneth 
whom he will, laid down his life, and alfo took it up again. 
2*Teverthelefs the ftriptures fliew that the divine Spirit is^ 



* The immcdiateapd vifible confequence of natural death on Its fubje(3:, 
V'hich is the body, whereof we have daily occular denionftration,may juft- 
iy rebuke the unbeliever. Who, that furveys the hui^aan frame in a living, 
and healthful flate, could difcern or imagine that this curious tabernacle, 
cf flefh, with allits members and powers, was formed of the ground? This. 
6ndeed is the doArine of the Bible; but it is no lefs myllerious and incre-. 
dible to an eye of fenfe and to unaflifted reafon, than the refurredion it-, 
icif. Men, who fet up their underftanding againft the teftimony of. God, 
cannot but own that the natural body is principled in the duft, it being 
Tifible to all : But why then do they deny a true and proper refurredion' 
ef this body from the ftate of the dead, no lefs plainly revealed, merely 
^ecaufe the manner is not to be defcribid, and thereby deftroy tbg foun-t 
.Jdation of the gofpel ? * 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, z^ 

the agent in the refurre^ioh; it is he that quickeneth from^ 
iin and the grave ; and by him, as the immediate efficient, 
caufe, both the body of ChriH: and thot'e of his faints are 
revived. " If the Spirit of him that raifed up Jefus from 
'' the dead dwell in you, he that raifed up Chrilt from the 
^' dead, (hallalfo quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit 
^' that dwellethin you.'* Rom. viii. ii. And in chap- i. 
4. he is faid to be declared " to be the Spn of God witiv 
*' power, according to the Spirit of holinefs, by the re-^ 
" rurre(^ion from the dead." So that this glorious event 
U afcribed to the Holy Ghoft. But in the oeconomy of 
falvation, both the Son and the Spirit a£b in o:Sice under 
the Father ; who is generally defigned in the gofpel where 
God is ufed diftind from the Lord Jefus Ghrift, and it is 
obvious that the Father is here intended ; it was the Fa- 
ther whom David refers to, that was fworn to raife up 
Chrift to fit on his throne, to whom he afcended, and at 
whofe right hand Jefus is now exalted with power : And 
that this is the divine Perfon referred to, appears from 
the current of fcripture, to whom alfo is afcribed the re- 
furre6lion of the dead, and the raifing of Jefus. The 
Father raifeththe dead at his pleafure, John v. 21. And 
in Rom,, vi. 4. we are told, *^ that Chrift was raifed by 
^' the glory of the Father." And again, Eph. i. 19, 20. 
it is declared, that " the Father of glory wrought in 
V Chrift, according to the working of his mighty power, 
f' when he raifed him from the dead." This is a certain 
fad of the utmoft importance, that the hand of the Father 
was feen in the reliirre£lion of his Son ; an article of 
faith vvhich lies at the foundation of our hope in the blood 
of Jefus, arid enters deeply into the myftt^ry of Chrift, as 
will appear from, the next inquiry, to which I proceed. 

Secondly, "What is implied in God's having loofed the 
pains of death ? This in general is a periphrafe of Chrift's 
refurredlion, or at leaft contained in it. And here I car^- 
notfall in. with thofe, who as I humbly apprehend, have 
inadvertently given into amyftical fenfc, and applied it to 
the agonies endured by our Redeemer; and accordingly 
i^ave taken Qccafion from this paCage to expatiate on ths 



30 LECTURES ON 

fpiritual fufFerings of Jefus, which are {lUed " the trayall 
*' of his foul/' 

It IS far from being agreeable to diSbr from perfons of 
luperior character and abilities, nor would I bv^ any means 
<{iicourage the juft application of a fingk parage to the 
borrows of our Saviour ; but whether it is proper to fay, 
that God, who infiided the' punifhment of fin, delivered 
Kim, our Surety, from the pains which were, upon him, 
may be decently queftioned. The divine Father ceated 
not to afHicl him till hi^e had poured out bis.foyl and yieldr 
cdup the ghoil : And his not being the tubje£b of eternal 
death, was in no degree owing to any favor ihpwn him by 
his judge, who in this righteous and awful traafa^ion 
*' fpared not his own Son:" and lince he made, ample far 
tisfaclion tojuftice for our fins, and trampled over his ene- 
raies ia his crofs, may it not rather be alferted, that, like 
Sampfon, by his death he delivered himfelf from the bonds 
he was under ? However, to apply this fentence unto o^r 
Lord's deliverance from dolorous fufferings, either in,ward 
or outward, isintiiely againft thefcope of the plage. Pe- 
ter is evidently treating en the true and proper refurre£li- 
onof Jefus, agreeable to his quotation out of the Pfalms, 
•which relates to the railing up the body of Chri.ft from the 
grave: this he urges in proof of hia being the ^^effiah: 
So that to take death, here in a figurative fevjfer and a dif- 
lohition of its pains of a deliverance from, fpiritual forrow 
is to depart from the fubje6l in hand. The apoftje had no 
view to fcafible pains of any kind whatever ; from all thefe 
the Redeemer was certainly releafed the moment he ex- 
pired, but the pains of death, fpoken of in this paff^ge^ wefe , 
evidently loofened at his refurre£iion. 

There is another paraphrafe I- cannot approve ; having 
*' loofed the bands under which he lay, i. e. fay fome, wh^n 
*'- the pains of death had done tlieir work upon him ;" but 
ienlible grief is not the intention of the place, nor is the 
idea elfential to the word rendered pains. Death is a fta^te 
of confinement in which the fubjed is held or tied fail, as 
wkh bands and in i Kings xx, 31. the exprefiion is.ultd 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. ^t 

for cords or ropes, with which captives are bound; and 
fome critics note, that the allufion is to cruel creditors, 
who will be fure to tie their debtors faft, which agrees 
with Prov. XX. 16. where the fame word is rendered a 
pledge, which we knov/ is held faft till redeemed with a 
price. 

Now he that underftands the myftery of Chri'ft in his 
death, will fee the term pains in this view, exactly corref- 
ponds with the circumftances 6? Jefus when he because 
obedient to the death of the crofs. Was he not taken in 
judgment for his people's tranfgreffions, and bound as 
their Surety ? Our <lebts were upon him, juftice feized 
liim, and he died as a criminal ! And furely he that was 
thus caft under the power of death, when delivered there- 
from, which is the thing recited, may well befaidto have 
his pains or bonds loofed. Thus our Redeemer lay in 
the grave for a feafon, while his foul was rejoicing in pa- 
radife ; not that I apprehend he v/as nov/ fuffering the 
penalty of the law which was inflicted and fulfilled in his 
ileath ; " but having, in the death of the crofs, put away 
*'• fm by the facrifice of himfelf," his body was thus laid 
under the pains or confinement of the grave, in order to 
an open and glorious releafe, whereby a public and unde- 
niable proof was given of his having made a righteous and 
honorable peace by his blood. 

This opens to our view the importance of w^hat is de^ 
glared, namely, that God, i. e. as we have feen, God, 
even the Father, raifed up Jefus : He is that divine per- 
fon who laid our iniquity on Chrift, in confequence ofhifi 
voluntary fubftitution in our ftead in the covenant of re- 
demption. The Father a^ed as judge and reclor in his 
demand of fatisfaiftion to law and juitice for our offences : 
he ftretched forth his omnipotent avenging arm, and his 
fword awoke againft our heavy-laden Surety, and flew 
him. Thus the Father brought the Lord Jefus under the 
power of death : His bringing him again from the dead is 
jan a6l of the higheft confequence, and full of encourage- 
m$Mt to the faith and joy of his people. O what a com- 



2% LECTURES ON 

fortable and glorious fight is this ? Cbrlftian, behold God 
raifed up Jefus ! See the Father as judge, who had ju Illy 
)boiind him as thy Surety, releafe him.' The righteous 
^nd fin-hating God, who confined thy Bondfman, and re- 
quired at his hands whatever was due unto thee as a fin- 
iier, in order to thy redemption from the curfe of the law; 
io, this fame divine perfon fets him at liberty ! Thusglo- 
rioufly was thy Redeemer delivered from his coi^finement 
in the grave, into which he was call for thy fms ! Was it 
to the honor of the apoftles, when falfly imprifoned at 
Philippi, to be fetched out by the magiftrates themfelves, 
and thereby declared to be innocent. A6ts xvi. 39. What- 
glory muft arife on thy Saviour, O chriftian, when he was 
brought again from the dead by the righteous Father him- 
felf after he had made fatisfa6lion to juftice I and how well- 
grounded thy hope in him ! 

This is the beauty of our Lord's refurrec^ion. We are 
to confider, that it is not merely Chrift's being raifed from 
the dead, or fimply that God raifed him. up ; the gofpel of 
this interefting event lieth in this, namely, that the Fa- 
ther, who, as judge, had laid the Redeemer under the 
power of death for our fins, did, under the fame righteous 
charader, adlually and voluntarily releafe him. This is 
gofpel indeed 1 the glory of which, no doubt, the angels 
beheld with reverence and joy : and fliould it not fill us, 
who truft in this Jefus, with triumph? But of this more 
heieafter ; we have fomething ftill further to excite our 
admiration and hope. It is declared, " that it was not 
*' pofiible that he fhould be holden of the bands of death :" 
So that the body of our Saviour could not be detained in 
the grave ; he muft be difcharged, nor could any thing 
hinder it. This is a glorious truth I a truth which refiecEls 
unfpeaicable honor on Jefus who was flain, and muft yield 
a proportionable fatisfa£lion to his people, who are re- 
deemed with his blood, and truft him for life. And this 
brings, 

Thirdly, To (hew the impoflTibility of Jefus being held 
ij^nder Uie power of death and the grave, fTow, on reflec* 



I>RIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 33: 

tion, it \Vill appear that it was impoffible in the following 
refpe(5ls : As, 

I. It was naturally inipofiible, both on account of his 
deity, and the victory he had obtained by the blood of his 
crofs. In ordeVtio clear up this point, we are to confider 
whofe body it was that lay in the grave from which ic was 
raifed: It was the body of hitn who is the Son of God. To 
this confideration, the term ufed in the paflage dire6ls us* 
The apoftledoth not fay, becaufe it was not poffible that/V^ 
but tliat he fhould be holden ; thereby leading our thoughts 
to that divine perfon who took this flefli into union with 
hinifelf. This, " great myftery of godlinefs, God mani- 
*' feft in the fiefli," runs through every branch of the gof- 
pel, and lies at the foundation of the truth we are upon* 
Before this body was conceived in the womb of the virgin^ 
it was declared by the angel, " That holy thing fhould 
** be called the Son of God," Luke i. 35. Now this ho- 
ly thing, I apprehend, chiefly intends the natural body of 
Chrift ; and this is fo called, becaufe being an eflential part 
of his whole human nature, it is united with deity in the' 
perfon of the Redeemer, who is God's own Son, equal 
with the Father: For this reafon the body of Jefus con^ 
tinned under the fame divine charadler when it lay en- 
tombed in the earth ; and accordingly it is faid, Rom. i 
4. that he was *' declared to be the Son of God with pow- 
*' er, by the refurrc6lion from the dead." This ineffable 
union of the human with the divine nature in the perfon 
of the Redeemer, having taken place by the counfel of 
God, fubfifts for ever : What could diflblve it ? If any 
thing, the fuffe rings of Chrift muft caufe the feparation ; 
but this cannot be fuppofcd, feeing this body was prepar- 
ed and affumed by the Son of God, that he might therein 
fuffer and die, and fo "become a facririce for fin," Heb. 
X, 5. If any period could be pointed out in which this 
union was diflblved, our hope in Chrift would be loft,fmce 
the infinite merit of his obedience and blood as a fatis- 
fadion to juftice, on which we depend, refults from his de- 
ity J but thanks be to God, we know, that the man Chrift 

K 



34 L E C T U R E S O N 

Jefus was truly his Son when he expired on the crofs ; 
nor could any change in his fiefli, no not by death itfelf, 
in the lead affe£l, much lefs deftroy a union which is fpi- 
rituai and divine ; and therefore far above the reach of 
finy natural caufe* The condition of our Sayioijr, while 
in the (late of the dead, was like that of his brethren de- 
ceafed ; his foul and body were feparate for a feafon, but 
neither body nor foul from the divine nature in the per- 
i'on of the Son : this union fubfifted through every change 
and will be eternaU And was it pofiible that this body^ 
thus united in the perfon of the Mediator unto Deity 
itfelf. fliould be finally held in the grave ? Could not the 
Son of God have rifen at his pleafure ? How then could he 
be a moment confined againU his own will ? We may 
therefore be certain, th^t the pains of death, which Go4v 
loofed when he raifed up Jefus, cauld not detaiaJ^nji^; 

As it was naturally impoflible that Jefus (hould be held 
utider death on account of his divine nature j this likewife 
appears from his glorious vidory over Satan and death 
on the erofs. We are told, that 'Hhrough death, hcde- 
*' ftroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the 
" deviL" Heb. ii. 14. And again, " He fpoiled principals 
** ities and powers, and made a rtiew of them openly, tri-i 
*' umphing over them in it,^' Col. ii, 15* If Jefus by 
himfelf, through the blood of his crofs, deftroyed the pow- 
er of Satan, and confequently triumphed over death and' 
the grave, by removing the guilt of fm, how is it poffibl^ 
that the pains of death ftiould confine him? It cannot 
be imagined that an enemy, however terrible or de- 
ftnidive to others, (bould be able to keep under that 
perfon by whom he is taken and deftroyed : Shall the 
vanquiftied detain his conqueror, or bind him at his plea- 
fure ? Who can fuppofe it f But thy Saviour, Q chriftian, 
obtained a vi6lory over death and hell; it was therefor^ 
not poffible, in the nature of things, that they (liould de- 
tain him. Thus it was naturally impoliible that Chrift 
fhould be held in the grave, both on account of his glory 
and power as a divine perfon, and alfo a5 the mighty cpn- 
queror of death and the devil, who had gained a dominion, 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. '$^- 

through the curfe of the law, over the guilty race of apo{!*. 
^te Adam. Either of thefe confideratioris apart, and 
much more whenunited, abundantly prove that Jefus could 
not be held by conth'aint under the power of death ; no^ 
not a moment. I do not deny that the Redeemer"*s lying 
ip the grave for a feafon is. a point of hi? huMiation, but 
rather thinil it Was in re-fped of his body; yet this may 
be foberly affirmed, that our Saviour's continuance in the 
ihite of the dead, after he had mtde fatisfstdion for fm, and, 
thereby deftroyed the power of death, wa 3- voluntary, 
andfubtnitted unto. for, ends of his glpry.. Again, 

II. It vt<?ks morally impoffibk that.Jefu^ihpuld. be de-. 
tained in the grave, in refpe6lof the divine decrees, the 
prophecy of fcripture, and the end for which he was de- 
^livered unto. death. That the refurre£lionof Chrift was ^ 
determiRed beforehand, will fcarcely be doubted : It was. 
no lefs the fettled counfel and forekjiowledge of God, 
that Jef^g fliould be raifed.from the dead, than that he- 
ihould be crucified and ilain* Henc# our Lord fpeaks 6i[ 
taking, up, ai well as of layii^g down his life to the com- 
mandment of the Father, John x. 1 8. And, indeed, this i$^ 
included in, that glory ot which the Spirit teftified in the. 
prophet?, and which was fpoken of by them from the be- 
ginning; So that, the railing up Chrift was.pfedetermin'ed, 
in the counfel of heaven, fince prophecy is no other xhsm.s 
a revelatltm of the divine decrees. But again, Thefe 
prophecies tl>emfelves ftiew it morally impofTible that the 
llody of , Chrift flionld be holden by death. , The veriici- 
ty of God i& engttged for the acpomplifljment of his word j 
i^ is therefore an undeniable maxim, that, the fcripture . 
cannot be broken, but they contain the promife of the Fa- 
ther to raife up bis Son : and this is the very thing which 
Peter infifts on, namely^ that. God had fworn to raife up 
Chrift and fet him on the throne of David, which could 
fK')t be accompliftied without his refurre£lion from the 
dead ; and aecordingly he lliews the Jews that the Pfalm- 
ift fpake of this in the prophecy quoted, vei\ 25, and ol 
lowing ; So that by the conne6lion of the difcourfe and 
argument of the apoftle, he more efpecially intends, bj^ 



y. LECTURESON 

its being impoflible, this moral impoffiblity arifing from 
the faithfulnefs of God to his word, in which he had de- 
clared he would raife up Jefus. As Chrift raufl: fuffer and 
die, in like-manner there was a neceffity for his rifing 
againfrom the dead, for this reafon among others, that 
the fcripture might be fulfilled^ it being impoffible that the 
word of the Almighty fliould fail. And this moral impol- 
fibility of detaining our Saviour under death, is ftill further 
confirmed by the defignof the Father in delivering up his 
Son to fuffer and die, namely, that his people might live 
through him, I Johniv\ 9. Thedefign of God in deliver* 
5ng up his Son could not be fruftrated ; and this was to 
deliver his adopted fons from death and hell, and to bring 
them to glory, Heb. ii. 10. But how could this come to 
pafs if the Saviour himfelf had continued in the grave? 
Had Chrift our Surety been held in thefe bands, we could 
not have been juftified in himj fo argues the apoftle, " If 
** Chrift be not raifed, your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your 
fms," iCor. T^v.iy. But bleffe^l be God, he ." who was 
^' delivered for our offences, was raifed again for our 
*' juftification ,'' Rom. iv. 25. And further, 

III. I may fhy it was legally jmpofiible tliat our Lord, 
fiiouldbe held in thefe bands, on account of the fatisfaftion, 
he had made to thejuftice of God. Having become the 
voluntary fubftitute of fmners, in the covenant of redemp- 
tion, he died by the hand of the Father, under the righte- 
ous imputation of all their iniquity j and in this his obedi- 
ence unto death, he fully anfwered the demands that were 
upon him, "for he put away fm by the facrifice of him- 
*' felf." Heb. xi. 2,6. This fatisfa<^ion, which appears 
from his being releafed, entitled him to a deliverance. It 
would have been unrighteous to have continued our Sure- 
ty in prifon, who had fully difcharged our debts, yea and 
made a glorious reparation to the honor of the law, under 
which he was held in our ft;ead. But is there any un- 
righteoufnefs with God ? It was therefore not poffible, 
becaufe it was unlawful. With God all things are poffi- 
ble that agree with the divine perfe^ions : It is therefore 
jipliible, however wonderfu,!, thai God fliould raife tbe 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 37 

dead, for ends of juftice or mercy, or for a difplay of his 
power ; but for the divine Father to hold the innocent as 
guilty, or to detain our Surety in the grave, into which he 
,was caft for our fins, after he had completely atoned them, 
would be to contradid his effential righteoufnefs, and to 
impeach his chara£ler as a judge ; Jefus having finiflied 
his work, and m^de a full end of fin, juftice required that 
he fhould be fet free, it not being equitable for that perfon 
to be held under death who had merited life, or to have 
with-held the viftorious Captain of our falvation from the 
reward of his fufferings. Thus it was naturally, morally 
and legally impolhble that the Son of God fiiould be hold- 
en by his bands, which wereloofed by the Father when 
he raifed him up* 

How glorious then is the tomb of a crucified Savi- 
our 1 Look, O believer 1 into this grave ; confide r who it 
contains, and the end for which it is there ! It is the bo- 
dy of him who is able to rife at his pleafure. O ailonifhing 
fight ! here lies the Conqueror for a feafon in the arms of 
his captive, and the Lamb in the jaws of the lion, unhurt, 
for the deftroyer cannot confume him ! The grave o^thy 
Redeemer, O chriftian I is full of rayftery and grandeur. 
Here lies the man in whom no fin was found, though death 
is alone the wages of fin ! yea here lies dead the Surety, 
who in the rani'om he hath given, had delivered his peo- 
ple from the fting of death, and condemned the laft enemy 
to a final deftru^lion; for " death itfelf fhall be caft into 
^' the lake of fire and fwallowed up in vi6lory.'' This is he 
that faid, " O death I will be thy plague, O grave I will 
*' be thy deftru£lion 1" And " who, through death, had 
^* deftroyed him that had the power of death, which is the 
^' devil,'' '* He laid down his life that he might take it up 
*< again :'* and lies thus confined, not by conftraint, but 
willingly,^ while, according to the fettlement in the coun- 
fel of peace, in order to his being openly raifed by the glo- 
ry of the Father, to his immortal honor, and the joy of 
his faints. This, this truly was lying in fisite-; not like the 
^ods or princes of the earth, in a vaia pomp of funeral de- 
coration over their corpfe, already corrupted, to be gazed 



3$ LECTURES ON 

at by a thougtlefs mnUitude of furviving mortals, and then, 
covered in the earth till the refurreflion of the dead : No ; 
the prince of life lies in death like himfelf, that juftice hav-, 
jng looi'ed his bands he may arife. He accordingly rofe, 
and as it werefliook ofFhisduftandalcended to his throne, 
to be viewed with adoration and praife by the heavenly 
hoft, who continually afcfibe to h'un exerlaftipg dominion 
and glory^ 

And was Jefus raifed up by God, it being not poffible; 
that he fbould be holden by death ? th^en wo be to thetn, 
■who refift or defpife him 1 Nothing can be more dread- 
ful for unbelievers and iaipenitent fmners, than the delj^ 
verance of Chri/l from the grave. The refurre£liou of 
Jefus proves the righteoufnefs of God., and judgment to, 
come, A<ns, xviii. 31. By this he is proclaimed Lord of; 
all, and him by whom God will judge the world in.,right?i 
eoufnefs. Reader, if thou haft npt fubmitted to the Sa-? j 
viour, I befeech thee to cojjfidcr thgt he is exalted at the 
right-hand of the Father, till all his enemies are fubdued.^ 
Chrift is rifen; what thea muft become of the man who; 
doth not obey him? The evidences of his refurre6lion,^, 
abound, as will hereafter be Ibewn, yet he is preached in^- 
*' vain to men dead in fins. Well faid our Lord, They will^;. 
*' i'K>t believe though one rofe from the dead." We have, 
ample external proof that Chrift is rifen, yet alas haw few, 
to whom the gofpel is preached believe on his name I But., 
know, thou carelefs hearer, that this fame Jefiis, whoHtp 
God hath raifed up a Saviour, is appointed bis Judg^, 
And as it was not poffible, for the realpns afligned, that-, 
the pains of death fhould hold him, in like manner, it ihall 
;notbe pofTible for the heavens to detain him, when th^j feft 
day is come ; then fhall he be " revealed in flaming fire, 
** and take vengeance on them who know not God, and 
" obey not his gofpel, a Theff. i. 8. And be perfuaded, 
that from the exquifite pains of this death, which he will. 
infli^l, thou ftialt never be loofed, if thou art caft in judg- 
ment, for they who fall into the hands of this living God, 
as the avenger of fin, will furely "be punilliedwith evc)^"- 
**lafting deilru<^ion from his prefence, aT}4 fi'om the glory 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. ^ 

** of his power,'* ver. 9. O then, I befeech thee, deceive 
not thyfelf, but take warnfng, and may the Lord convince 
thee, that repenting of thy fins, thou mayeft flee to this 
Saviour, who hath delivered us from wrath to come I 

But with what fatisfa^tion and joy m$y you, my dear 
friends, who truft in the Redeemer, refleift on his glorious 
feleafe f.om the grave I to you this grand event is no lefs 
jnterefting than wonderful. Behold, O chriftian, thy 
Surety raifed and difcliarged by the fame hand which 
bound him for thy fms ! Herein thou art juftified, and 
Itere is a pledge of thine own refurre6lion» What a ground 
of triumph is this ! " Who ill all lay any thing to the 
♦'charge of God's ele6l ? It is God that jullifieth." 
He juftified thy Saviour, believer, and it is God that 
juftificth thee in him ; thou art therefore righteoufly ac» 
quitted. And with refped to judgment to come ; hall 
thou any thing to fear ? '' Who is he that condemneth T - 
" It is Chrift that died, yea rather that is rifen again,*^ 
Unfliaken is tl*y confidence, man, in the blood of Chrift 
for the remiflion of fms. With boldnels come to thy 
heavenly Father, in the name of this Jefusj he hath him- 
felf raifed up } ^nd be aflured that the end of thy faith 
will be thy complete and eternal falvation. If Chrift is 
rifen, and it was not pofTible that he ftiould be holden, 
fto man (hall perifli for whom Chrift died, neither cati 
death have final dominion over him. Jefiis is rifen, and 
become the firft-fruits of them that deep in him. Hence, 
fays he to his difciples, ** Becaufe I live, ye fliall live 
*' alfo," John xiv, 19. The members of a living head 
muft a lliort feafon, for valuable ends, fail into a ftate 
of natural death, but they fliall furely revive. May this 
firengthen thy faith, enliven thy hope, and cncreafe thy 
joy in the Lord. Finally, O chriftian, is there not the 
higheft reafon for thee to give thanks to the Father?-— 
Behold his faithfulnefs, juftice, power and love, illuftri- 
Quily difplayed in raifmg up thy Saviour ; and confider the 
infinite obligations thou art under to him, that this im- 
portant and interefting h^ ftands confirmed by fo many 
^credible teftimonies. i^ut of this ia the following leduf e* 



no LECTURES ON 



LECTURE IV, 



PVijat to be understood by a 'witness. Who are ivitnesseJf 
of our Lord^s resurrection. Their credibility. 



TH E natural prejudice againft a refurre^lion in ge- 
neral, and the particular llrefs laid in the gofpel on 
the raifmg up Chrift, requires the mod ample and un- 
deniable proot* of that glorious and important event ; and^ 
bleffed be God, this is not wanting. He hath abounded 
in every kind of evidence, which the nature of the thing 
and the circumftances of the cafe will admit, among which 
the teftimony of his difciples hath a principal place, and 
is now to be confidered. 

The apoflles having declared, A£ls xi. 24. that God 
hadraifed up Jefus of Nazareth, and pointed out the ne- 
ceflity of his refurre<^ion, to the glory of his name, pro- 
ceeds to (hew, from the prophecy of David, that thus it 
was determined, ver, 25 — 31. And in ver. 32, repeats 
his afiertion with a pun6luality and boldnefs becoming a 
man who could prove what he faid, '-*- This Jefus hath 
*' God raifed up." In evidence of this, he produces th« tef- 
timony of many, including his own; "whereof, faith he, 
*' we are all witnefles." The like declaration is made on 
another occafion, chap. iii. 14. And likewife again, be- 
fore the high-prieft and Sanhedrim, Peter boldly declares^ 
ti»t he and others were his, i. e, God's witneflcs of thef«*' 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN^ITY. ^5 

Divings, meaning among the reft that of the refurre^lion of 
Jefus that was flain. In attending to this article, it may- 
be ufeful to ftate the notion of a witnefs, coniider who 
are defigned by the witneiTes of Chrift's refurre£lion, and 
then fliew their credibility, or rather that their teftimony 
cannot with reafon be queftioned. 

A witnefs, in the limple and common idea of the word^ 
is one that bears open teftimony to the truth; it fignifies^ 
clearly to affirm the thing that is true. And thus it is ap- 
plied to a man's profeffion of his faith in Chrift, by an 
open confeffion of his name, and a perfonal fubje£lion to 
him before men ; in this fenfe to confefs is to witnefs* 
Henc^ our Lord himfelf is faid to witnefs a good confeffion 
before Pontius Pilate, when he ftood to the truth andde- 
r.iednot his character, i Tim. vi. 13. compared with John 
xviii. '37. And the word, martyrs, here ufed, is more 
particularly applied to them who, being called to it, feal 
their profeffion with their blood. Hence Saul pleads, fay- 
ing to the Lord, A£ls xxii. 20. " And when the blood 
" of the martyr Stephen was flied, I was ftanding by," &c. 
And we read. Rev. xvii. 6, of the blood of the martyrs, 
i* e. according to the text, of the witnefles of Jefus. The 
fame character is likewife given to the minifters of the 
word, who are employed to affirm and declare the truth ; 
thus of the prophets, who by fpecial un£lion from heaven, 
teftified before hand of Jefus, it is faid, that they all gave 
witnefs to him who rofe from the dead, concerning remif- 
fion of lins through faith in his blood, A6ls x. 43. Hence 
alfo John the Baptift, is faid, John i. 7. to come for a 
witnefs, to bear witnefs of the light, i. e. to teftify unto 
Chrift the true light i and the witneffes mentioned. Rev* 
xi, 3. as feme apprehend, feem rather a number of gofpel 
minifters, than any two individual perfons. However our 
Lord was a witnefs, as he bore witnefs to himfelf; which 
was no other than bearing witnefs to the truth, John viii. 
18. And in the fame fenfe: all his faithful minifters, who 
teftify and declare the truth as, it is in Jefus, may be ftilecL 
witneifes of the fame. 



3^5 L fe C T U R £ S O N 

But this falls ftiort of the fenfe in whicli Peter an<I 
others were witnefTes of our Lord's refurre6lion. A wit- 
nefs, properly fpeaking, is one who, being called or ap- 
JDointed by authority, to afcertain any fa(ft, gives good anci 
dfEcient proof of the fame ; he is one that teftifies a thing 
upon his own knowledge as certainly true. Such are the 
evidences required in relation to fa6is by the world in ge- 
neral or fpecial focieties, and particularly in courts of 
juftice. Thus every thing by the law was to be eftal> 
liflied in the mouth of two or three wivneffes, and the. 
fame rule is adopted under the gofpel, Deut. xvii. 6. conxr 
f)ared with 2 Cor. xiii. i. And it is in this fenfe that thje 
apoftle declares concerning himfelf and many others, that 
they were all witnefles of the refurredion of Jefus. He 
Intends nothing lefs than their being appointed of God the 
true and proper witneflfes of the adorable and interefting 
fia£l, and which they accordingly tefliped upon their own 
knowledge, having feen the Lord after he was rifen, and 
before whom he faid and did fuch things as amounted to a. 
full demonftration that God had indeed raifcd up this fame 
Jefus who was crucified; of which more hereafter. Thus 
as Petei*, James and John, were eye-witueffes of the ma- 
jefty and glory of Jefus in his transfiguration on the mount, 
in like manner all thefe whom the apoftle refers to and 
joins himfelf with, were eye and ear-witneffes of his be-^ 
ing rifen from the dead. 

Now, who. are thefe witnefles, or from whence arfe, 
they chofen f from angels ? No : Indeed he was feen of 
angels after he rofe, i Tim. iii. 16. And we read that 
^ngels faid to the women, Matt, xxviii. 6. " He is not 
*■*■ here, for he is nfen.'' So that we find angels waited 
at the fepulchre, and report the Saviour's refurreftion ; 
and we Ijkewife are told, a glorious hoft of thefe illuftri- 
ous fpirits attended our Lord when he afcended on high, 
Pfalm Ixviii. 17. But angels were not appointed of God," 
to bear witnefs to the world of his Son, that he hath raif^- 
ed him from the dead. Neither are thefe witnefles taken, 
from the body of the Jews, or from any of their nilers. 
(phrJft did not appear unto them eiter he was rifen. At 



PRlMn'i^E CHRISTIANITY. 4| 

tliis "unbelievers have frequently cavilled. IF Ghrift, fay 
they, indeed rofe again, why did he not fliew himieu 
openly to tiie Jews and their rulers ? It has been juftly 
replied : This Would not have confifled with the ftate of 
the Jews, nor with the delign of the witnefl'es, which 
was not to be a teftiraony only to that nation, which wa? 
foon to be deftroycd, but that all the world might know 
that God had railed up Jefus a Saviour* The Jews, 
through unbelief, had rejeded the Meffiah, as a people, 
^nd thereby filled up the meafure of their fin. Hence they 
V/ere under an awful dereli^lion* Our Lord had fome tim^ 
before his death pronounced their doon), namely, Matt, 
xxiiik 38* that their houfe was left unto them defolate,1^ 
i. Ci devoted to deftrudion, as the reward of their ini- 
quity* And in the next verfe he folemnly declares,: fay- 

^ing, *' Ye fliall not fee me henceforth, till ye lliall fay^ 

.*' Blefled is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.''-^— 
And it doth not appear that our Lord once after add re ffed 
the Jews in the courfe of his miniftry, in order to their 
Convi£lion, but only warns his* hearers of their approach- 
ing deftru(^ion, and declares the many awful figns that 

' would forerun it. There is reafon to apprehend that fome 
crafty fceptics are aware, that if in thefe circumftances 

^pur Lord had actually appeared to the Jews, he had furely 
fajfified his own predidion ; in which cafe no doubt they 

. Would have availed themfelves a^ainft him, but tliey have 
not this advantage. Chriil did not (hew himfelf to the 
Jews after he was rifen, and the reafon is plain ; he had 
profefledly left them, fo that his Immediate concern with 
them as a bqdy was long lince at an end ; nor was it proba- 

_ ble that a people who had, in the hardnefs of their hearts, 
withftood the evidence of fo many miracles, and even that 
of his raifmg the dead, as in the inftance of Lazarus j I 
fay, it is no^ likely that a people, who againft all this di- 
vine jtellimony had rejefted Ch^ift as an impQjftor^ and as 



■* To he Jefokte, is fottretittic* to be undcrftood of being left under fin 
and the punilhment thereof. Thus in Pfalm xxxiv. 21, 22. it is faid tfiat 
the wicked Ihall be defolate or guilty, as the Hebrew word fignifie», fr«B 
l^'l^ichth^y wh(5>!truft 19 thp Lord ar< ifccuK, bciog iuftjficd i« hinfu 



44 L E C T U R E S O N 

one that had a devil, would have repented and receiveJ^ 
him, upon feeing him after his refurre^lian. However, we- 
are to confider that Jefus was to be the Saviour of the 
world, and his reiurre6lion to be publiQied in every nation 
under heaven. The rulers of the Jews could be no bet- 
ter evidence than the perfons chofen ; for, as one well 
obferves, " What greater fatisfa6lion would it have been 
*^ to the world in general that Chrift appeared to the 
*' Jews, or to the magiftrates at Jerufalem, than that of 
•' his appearance to his difciples, provided their vvitnefs 
** is credible V* Any unprejudiced perfon may fee that 
the fele£led witnefs of Chrift's own difciples, duly quali^ 
fied to give their teftimony, was the moft rational, and 
convincing, and confequently the fitteft external evidence 
that the world could receive. It is therefore perverfe 
and manifeft prejudice, to complain that the witneffes of 
our Lord's refurre^ion were chofen from his own difci- 
|)les. 

But to return. Neither are the witneffes referred to^ 
every one who faw and converfed with the Saviour after 
lie rofe from the dead ; he was feen of five hundred bre- 
thren at once, i Cor. xv. 6. And it is at leaft highly 
probable that each of his difciples faw him before he af- 
cended; and that as they had opportunity, declared his 
appearance unto them. But to be a witnefs of Chrift's re« 
iiirreftion includes a fpecial comraiffion and authority, by 
divine appointment, to teftify this wonderful and glori- 
ous event in the world. Thus Peter declares that they 
were " witneffes chofen before God, who did eat and 
*' drink with him after he rofe from the dead," A6ls x. 
41. It was effential and peculiar to the character of an 
apoftle to bear this teftimony of Jefus ; and therefore 
whon the number of the apoftles was to be completed by 
the filling up the place of Judas the traitor, it is faid, A6ls 
i. ai, 21. " Of thefe men which have companied with 
«' us all the time that the Lord Jefus went in and out 
" among us, beginning from the baptifm of John, unto 
♦' that fame day that he was taken up from us, muft one 
'^* fee ordained to be a witnefs with us of his refurre£lion." 



PP.IMITIVE CHRIStlANlTY. 45? 

And accordingly when Saul was converted, and called to 
the office of an apoftle, the Lord faith ; " For I have ap- 
*' peared unto thee for this purpofe, to be a minifter and 
" a witnefs both of the things which thou haft fecn, and 
*' thoie things in the which I (hail appear unto thee,'* 
A6ls xxvi. 16. One of which was that of the refurrec- 
tion, which he not only preached, but likewiie bare wit- 
ness of having feen Jefus Chrift, to which he appeals in 
proof of hh apoftlefliip, i Cor. ix, i. And in chap. xv. . 
after averting that Chrift rofe again the third day accord- 
ing to the fcriptures, asid appeared in teftimony of the 
lame, he declares, ver. 8. ** and laft of all he was feen o£ 
*' me alfo." So then thefe witnefles are no other than thofe 
firft and great minifters, the apaftles of Chrift, who be- 
ing qualified by their own eonverfe with him after he was 
'alive from the dead, were chofen and ordained before God 
to teftify, by undeniable evidence, to all the world that 
"he railed up Jefus ; and accordingly they went forth in 
"his name, with figns and miracles attending, in proof o£ 
their milTicn from heaven* 

It remains to confider the credibility of thofe ehofea 
"witnefTes, which is by no means to be taken for granted, 
nor is is defired. For though the enemies of chriftianity 
iiave prefumed to queftion the evidence of the difci pies, it 
hath largely been fliewn by many excellent writers, and 
will be. found on trial, that their chara£ler, under the no- 
tion of a witnefs to this glorious and important event, 
"will bear the niceft fcrutiny, to the abundant fatisfa£lion 
•of every impartial enquirer ; nor do I know of any thing 
'that can be added to what has already been urged on the 
head, the fum of which I (hall prefent to the reader. In 
'general it appears that they had every qualification effen- 
•tial to a credible witnefs. They had knowledge, perfpi- 
cuity, and uprightnefs ; but more particularly, 

Firft, they were competent judges. The thing to' b^ 
-proved was level to any man's capacity*. Unbelievers 

^- • '■ . . _ ■r.t 

♦ It U the fubtlcty of a deiftical writer to jnfinuate that the cr*dibffit|r 



46 L E C T t R E S O N 

may attempt to raife difficulties and pretend great duuget 
of being deceived in a cafe of this nature, but they hav«j 
been told, and every man^s reafon will tell him, that evi-» 
dence is eafily obtained where the thing in queftion, as in 
the cafe of the refarre<5lion, is mianifeftly an objed of fenfe* 
The body of Chrift is a fenfible obje«ft, and the apoflles 
had fenfes to difcern that obje^. It has been juftly plead* 
ed, nor can it be modeftly denied, that the refurre6li6r> 
Hvas to be fupported by the evidence of fenfe ; now, as a 
celebrated writer obferves, ** it requires no more ability 
^' to be a witnefs to a man raifed from the dead, than a 
*' perfe*^ knov/ledge of him before his deceafe, andaca- 
** pacity to diftinguilh between a dead man and a man 
*' alive ; and what living man doth not think himfelf a 
♦' judge in this point ?^ As to a pretence that the body ojf 
Jeius was not truly and properly a body, feeing he often 
appeared to thedifciples and withdrew fromthem in a fuddert 
miraculous way, it is without any foundation, fmce at Na- 
zareth before his death, when his body is allowed to be 
real, and in other places, fee Luke iv. 30. John viii. 59^ 
he withdrew from the midft of the people, when in dan* 
g£r, in a manner no lefs wonderful. Befides the apoftles 
had undeniable teftimony concerning the reality of our Sa.- 
viour's body, as appears from Luke xxvi, 39. " Handl&- 
*' rae and fee, for a fprrit hath rot flelli and boneSyas yc 
*' fee me have/' 

The knowledge thefe witnefles had of oar Lord'^s refur- 
re6lion depended not on occafional or tranfitory vifits ; 
they had fufficient opportunity to examine his body, and 
to be fatisfied it was Jefus himfelf, which, in connexion; 
■with their capacity for judging, demands our credit. Ma- 
ry Magdalen, the firil who faw the Lord after he rofe, wa* 
forbid to detain him for a reafon afiigned, yet it doth not 

of a witnefs can at mofc be only prefumed ; for if it may not be certainlf 
inown, there can then be no dependence «n any hiflory.facred or pro- 
fan<:, and in confcqtience the gcfpel itfelf is incapable of proof. But it ia 
hoped that the reader is not to be moved by any fHch fophiftry, and thafc 
the charadler ©f the apoftle who teftified that Jefus is rifen wUl appear 
•uideniablc. 



PRIMITIVE CHUISTIANITY. 47 

^'jipear that tlie touched not his body ; however it is plaiti 
that flie had fu^cient proof that it was the Lord fiie had 
ieen, and accordingly makes her report, John xx. i8. And 
with refpe«^ to thele chofen witneffes we have already 
feen that they eat and drink With him, yea, faith Luke th^ 
iacred hiftorian, A6ts i. 3, *' He fhewed himfelf alive 
^' after his paflion, by many infallible proofs, being feen oj 
*' them forty days, and fpeaking of the things pertaining 
f' to the kingdom of God.'' Thus God fhewed his Son^ 
iVhom he hath raifed openly, chap. x. 40. i, e. clearly as 
^he fun ftiines, in the moft confpicuous manner, fo as to 
leave no doubt on the minds of his followers, for as th6 
^poftle acquaints us, i Johni. i. " They heard, they faw 
♦' with their eyes ; they looked upon, and theif hands hand* 
t* led of the woi"<i of life.'' A pleonifm or redundancy 
pfexpreffion which implies the fuUeft opportunity fo^ 
trial by their ferifes, which, as hinted, were the proper 
judge of the h€t. In a word, had Ghriil lived with his dif* 
ciples an hundred years after he rofe from the dead, they 
Could not have obtained a more certain proof that he was 
tifen indeed. 

Iti Gonfequence of their full fatisfa£lion on fufScient evi* 
fience that Jefus was rifen, the apoftles declare it without 
hefitation, which is another credible circumftance ; they 
fpake of it boldly at Jerufalem, ^ in the inftance before us» 
and even before the high-prieft and council of the Jews, 
A6ls V. 33. Now it is not credible that they fliould thus 
freely and conftantly d.eclar^ that Jefus was alive on the 
fpot where he was crucified, and among a people that had 
feen him laid in the grave, and this to the magiftrates 
themfelves, who wanted not for means to detect, nor pow- 
^r or inclination to puniQi them, if the fad had not been 
notorious. 

Integrity alfo is effential to the credit of a witnefs, and 
of this the difciples had every pollible mark. And here I 
Tnight infift on their morals, the miracles they wrought, 
their faithfulnefs in recording their own infirmities and 
ins, their many and great fufieriu^s for teftimony pf Jetus 



48 LECTURES ;0 N 

sind when called to it, their fealing this teftimony wit!| 
their blood. Thefe are more than fufficient ; and efpe- 
pially the lad is an undeniable proof, if proof can be had 
of human uprightnefs. Men corrupted with infidelity 
have not fpared an attempt to let afide the force of this 
argument, by comparing it with that of a criminal under 
Sentence of death, who denies the fa6l for which he is con- 
demned, which hath frequently been the cafe. But to this 
it has been juftly replied, that *Hhere is no comparifon 
*^ between a criminal denying the truth to fave his life, 
*' and a perfon expofing himfelf to fufFerings and death by 
*^ attefting a known falihood." And indeed, who cannot ffe 
that this is rather an oppofite than a parallel cafe ? The 
apoftles might at any time have quitted their teftimony, 
andfaved their lives, but they refilled unto blood, ftriving 
againft fin ; which, joined to the wonders they perform^ 
ed, is fuch evidence, that to relift the fame is to refolvQ 
againft believing either God or man. 

Thus if we confider that thefe witnefies were capable 
of judging the matter in queftion, the fufficient means they 
had of knowing the faft, the open manner in which they 
declared it, and the ample proof we have of their integri- 
ty, nothing but prejudice can hinder our pronouncing them 
credible, and receiving their teftimony of our Lord's re- 
furre&ionj they are certainly true witnelfes of God who? 
teftified to the world that he raifed up Chrift.^ ; 

But, belides their being pofTelTed of every qualifications 
required in a witnefs, there are many other things which 
tend to corroborate their evidence, which are not to be 
paffed over in filence. Their own incredulity, for which 
they ftand jullly reproved; their being never called in 
queftion, in relation to the Fail ; which, together virith Ga^ 
maliers advice, A£ls v. 34. and PauFs anfwer to Agrip- 
pa in the court of Ca^faria, chap. xxvi. are more than fuf- 
ficient to fhew, that the Jews themfelves were far fron> 
being convinced that Chriil was not rifen. The taftimo- 
ny of unbelievers themfelves is another ftrong circum- 
ftance in favour of the apoftles credibility. The foldiers 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. A9 

Vno guarded the fepulchre, though bribed to conceal it^ 
^t firft, in their fear, fcruple not to report the aftoniftiing 
event. Matt, xxviii. ii.By fome apologies of the fathers 
it appears that even the Roman fenate denied not the re- 
furre6lion of Jefus, and it is very remarkable that Jofe- 
phus the Jewifh hiftorian fpeaks without hefitation, that 
Chrift rofe again on the third day. But ftill greater is 
the teftimony o-f God by the mouth of his prophets who 
foretold the refurredion of his Son ; this will confirm the 
credibility of his witnefles witsh them that believe. To 
this purpofe the apoflle pleads, A6ls xxvi* %iy 2^3. that 
he faid " none other things than thofe which the prophets 
*' and Mofes did fay (hould come : That Ghrift fiiould 
*' fufFer, and that he Ihould be the firft that fliould rife 
*' from the dead." It certainly adds to the credit of per- 
fons every way qualified to be witnefTes, that in what they 
report, however wonderful, they declare nothing but what 
God had foretold ihould come to pafs. The amazing 
fpread and efficacy of the gofpcl might alfo be urged, and 
iikewife the number of thofe who attelledthe fame ; not 
one or twoj but twelve ; and afterward the apoftle of the 
Gentiles, who once thought it became him^ and therefore 
to his utmoft deftroyed the faith ; fo that he cannot be 
iuppofed to join in their teftimony without the moft con- 
vincing evidence ; together with all the other difciples 
Who faw the rifen Saviour, befides the witnefles them- 
felves, fo that many himdreds confirmed their reports 
Thus it was the wifdom of God by a great variety of cir- 
cumftances to eftablifii the witnefs of his choferi lervants 
to the refurreftion of our Lord* 

As to the popular obje6lions of infidels, they are trifling 
and perverfe* Some cavil that he was not three days and 
three nights in the earth, as prediiSled, for want of ad- 
mitting the known manner of reckoning the nights into 
the day, when we reckon by fo many days* Three days 
and three nights are expreilionfj equivalent to three days^ 
or in three days. And three days inclufive take in the 
firft and the laft in the account, however fmall a part of 
either is employed, which anfwers e.xadly to the time oi 
G 



50 LECTURES ON 

our Saviour's lying in the grave. The Jews plainly under- 
Hood the next day, which was the fabbath, to be the fecond' 
day, and the pains they took to let a guard on that day, 
left in the night the body ofChrlft fiioiild be ftolen away, 
fhews that in their account, the next, i. e. the third day 
was the day on which he, whom they call a deceiver, faid, 
" I will rile again, '^ Matt, xxvii. 63. The predifSllon 
wfts that he fliould rife again the third day, which he a^u- 
ally, truly, and properly did, as we learn from the teftimo- 
ny of the angels, Luke xxiV. 7. alio from his appearance 
to the women, and the difcourfe of the dilciples with him 
as they walked to Emmaus, ''To-day, fay they, is the 
*' third day lince thefe things were done," ver. 2,1. which- 
was the very day on which Chrift rofe, as appears from> 
the context. Others deny that a reuirreftion is pollible ;, 
this is exceeding bold if not impious ; it is moft unrealbn- 
able to doubt wlicther the Almighty who formed this, 
curious veflel of dull with aprirAciple of life can revive it 
from the ftate of the dead at his pleafure j and, as hinted 
already, there is no ccntradidlion in raiung a dead 
body, nor is it in any refpeA unworthy of God to perform 
it J and if the dead may be raifed, tlie refurre^lion of Je- 
fus is not to be fcrupled under a notion of its being im- 
polfible. In a word, the ftory told by the Jews, of our- 
Saviour's body being ftole in the night by his difciples, 
notwithllanding all their precaution, is too ridiculous and 
iibfurd to be received by any fober unprejudiced perfon- 
The difciples were at this time in the utmoft fear and 
jeopardy, were therafelves difcouraged at the death of 
their Lord, and had no apprehenlion of his riling again^ 
and therefore had no motive in themfelves to attempt 
the removing his body ; but if they had, they were utter- 
ly incapable of performing it ; could they roll away the 
Itone from the fepulchre, or do it without av/aking any of 
the guard ? but if the guard continued alleep, how came 
they to know that his body was ftolen ? or if it was. that 
his difciples were concerned I they neither heard nor faw 
any thing j and, as a late ingenious writer * obferves, 

* Trial of the witnelTcs of the refurredlion of jcfus, wherein moft of the 
arguments mentioned in favor o^ ihq. apoilk* crcdibiiity, are introduced, 
with great propriety and force* 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAHITY. ^^x 

was It ever heard fince ths world began that evidence 
** was admitted to a fad that took place while the parties 
*' attefting were confefiedly alleep ?" Befides, who in their 
fenfes, on fuch an enterprize, would have ftayed to fold- 
up the cloths, and. lay them apart in the manner they 
were found by Peter and John? 

So then it appears that this glorious and important, 
event, the refurredion of our Lord Jefus Chrift, ftands 
fulfy atteftedby proper witneiTes chofen before God^whofe 
credibility is not to be queftioned, being confirmed by every 
■polTible mark of truth, and againft which every objedicn 
of the adverfary is groundlefs and vain. Unbelievers are 
tlierefore inexcufable ; their foli}^ is manifeft, fmce nothing 
cart be more credible ; nor wrs any fa£l in the world more 
abundantly proved, than that Jefus was raifed from the 
<lead. May fuch obtain mercy to repent ; for fmce Chrift 
is rifen, wo be to the man who (hall be found to have de» 
aiied him when he comes to judgment! 

To conclude, he that belleveth hath the witnefs in him- 
felf, and may be affuredfrora his own experience that Je- 
fus is rifen. The efficacy of the gofpel unto faving faith 
in the heart, is owing to the fame divine power which 
Wrought in Chrift when God raifed him from the dead, 
Eph. i. 19, 20. And the death of Jefus is the procur- 
ing caufe of fuch divine operation ; fo that the faithful 
have an internal evidence, whereby the veracity of thefe 
chofen witneffes is confirmed to themfelves. Ochriftian, 
thine ovv'n refurreftion from the grave of fm, is afure tef- 
timony to thee that thy Saviour is rifen ! Had not thy 
Surety rofe from the dead, thou hadft been yet in thy fins, 
but now God hath quickened thee, who wert thyielf dead 
in trefpafies and fms ; he that died for thee is certainly 
alive I Under this teftimony of the Spirit, rejoice in thy 
hope, give glory to the Father, who raifed up his Son, 
and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be 
in God. 



;^ ^.ECTURESOl^ 



LECTURE V. 



jthe Holy Ghost a mtness to the resiirreBlon of Jesus : 
His testimony in the believer appealed to by the apostle^ 
1st epistle jfohn, ch. v. lo. considered and proved. 



WE have feen that nothing can be more credible 
than the open and united teftimony the apoftles, 
gave to the refurre<Slion of Chrift ; yet there is one objec- 
tion boldly advanced, which if admitted, throws a dead 
weight on all that can be faid in proof of this point, name- 
ly, the fa6t is fo extraordinary, it being, fay the obje<^ 
ors, contrary to the laws of nature for the dead to arife, 
that no human evidence can be fufficient, fmce the voice 
of nature outweighs the utmoft that can be faid againft. 
her. To this fome have juftly replied, that the ideas men 
form concerning nature, are governed by prejudices they 
have received, and not by reaibn : and this is at leaft fre- 
quently the cafe. But fiirely, however above or contrary 
to the law of nature it may be fuppofed, God is able to 
jaife the dead ; and who can fay that he will not ? and if 
he doth, will any deny that the fenfes are coi)ipetent 
Judges of the fa6l ? Now it is afierted that God did raife 
up Jefus, who (liewed himfelf openly to his difciples, 
whofe convi6lion and knowledge of their rifcn Lord were 
inconteftible ; which, together with the uprightnefs of 
their chara£ler, and the manner of their teitimony, and 
^fpecially as their report was confirmed by undeniable mi- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 53 

racles which they wrought, render unbelievers without 
any excufe. Nevertheleis the credit of our Saviour's re- 
furreftion doth not altogether reft on human evidence; 
Not only the apoftles, but God alfo bare witnels to his 
being raifed up : Not to infift on the teftimony of the Fa- 
ther by the prophets from the foundation of the world, or 
that of the Son himfelf, from the throne in the heavens^ 
Rev. i. 18. which will have their weight with them that 
believe, to eftablilb their faith in this point; it is exprefsly 
declared that the Holy Ghoft alfo did witnefs with the 
^ifciples to this interefting event, whofe divine teftimony 
"we are now to confider. It ftands recorded, A£ls v. 32« 
where the apoftle, upon declaring that he and the reft 
were witneffes that God had actually raifed up Jefus, and 
exalted him with his right-hand, adds this remarkable 
claufe, " And fo is alfo the Holy Ghoft, whom God hath 
^' given to them that obey him." I ftiall briefly touch on 
the divine perfon here faid to witnefs, as the apoftles, to 
the refurre£lion of Chrift ; the view in v/hich he is conii- 
dered in this paffage ; on whom he is beftowed ; and then 
ftiew how, or in what manner he teftifies of this bieffod 
and important event. 

The Holy Ghoft, or Spirit, for they are the fame, is no 
pther than that glorious divine perfon who defcended, as a 
dove, on our Lord at his baptifrn, in the relating of which 
the apoftles indifferently ftiie him the Spirit, or the Holy 
Ghoft, Mat. iii, 16. compared with Luke iii. 0,2. This a- 
dorable Spirit is joined with the Fatherand the Son, in the 
name into which chriftians are baptized, under the fame 
character by which he is defcribed in the text ; and i't is 
remarkable that he is fpoken of under this charadler near 
fourfcore times in the New-Teftament. His proper deity 
and diftin6l perfonality are clearly let forth in the facred 
\yritings,and particularly in the cafe of Ananias, A6ls v. 
3, 4. to whom the apoftle faith, *« Why hath fatan filled 
^'' thine heart to lie to tlie Holy Ghoft ! thou haft not lied 
^' unto men, but unto God." He muft be greatly preju- 
diced who would attempt to evade this plain and ftrong 
proof of the true divinity, and proper perfonality of thq 



54' L E C T U Pv E S O N 

Holy Ghofl:; and the fentence before us eviiices the Ut- 
ter, for to bear witnefs is a perfonal a<ft. 1 le is ftiled 
Ghoflor Spirit, not in relpeft of his fpiritual efTence, which 
is common to each divine perfon, but neither tlie Father 
nor the Son are the Spirit ; therefore tins difiingui tiling 
character has regard to his perfonal fubfillence ; and how- 
ever fonie may difapprove it, the ancient opinion has not 
been fuperceeded by a better account. The real ground 
of this divine chara6ter feems to be this, namely, the 
manner of his eternal proceilion, which is by foiration ; 
and accordingly in Job xxiii. 4. the Spirit of the Lord, 
and the breath of the Almighty are the fame ; and as for 
the epithet holy, it Hands fupportedby his ellential purity, 
and alio by his being the author of holinefs in them that 
believe. This divine perfon, we are told, " proceedeth 
*' from the Father and the Son," which may be applied 
- to his manner of iubfiftence in the deity, as hinted already, 
or to his goings-forth in the execution of his office, in 
v/hich he quickens, I'anitifies and comforts the hearts of 
the redeemed, and likewife is a witnefs to their eilablilli- 
ment and joy ; and particularly as he was, andcontinueth 
to be an evidence or witnefs to the reiurrc6lion of Jeius. 

The Holy Ghofl is declared to be the gift of God. As 
Chrill, fo is his Spirit the gift of the Father, whofe oilice 
and operations are needful to accorapafh the divine pur- 
pofes in the falvation of finners. He was therefore pro- 
vided in die counfel of God, for he jiath chofen us through 
laniRification of the Spirit. Hence the Spirit is promifed, 
and hath been fent forth in all ages, but more plentifully 
in thefe lall dayslince the coming of Chrill, in the variety 
of his gifts and tiie plenty of his grace ; lo that this is emi- 
nently a difpenfation of the Spirit, under which the faith- 
ful have been large partakers of his power and goodnefs,^ 
whereby thev obtained a freedom or boldnefs unknown in 
general heretofore. *' For ye have not received the Spirit 
*•• of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spi- 
*•* rit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Feather." Rom., 
viii. 15. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 55 

Now it is further, declared, that God hath given the 
Holy Ghoft-to ihem that obey him; that is, who obey 
either God the Father, or his Son Jefus Chrift, it amounts 
to the fame, for in obeying of Chrift we obey the Father 
who fent him : but in gofpel-obcdience Chrift is the more 
immediate objed ; and to obey Jcfus Chrift is cordially 
to truft him, Rom, x. 16. " They have not all obeyed 
" the gofpel, for Efaias faith. Lord, who hath believed' 
" our report ?" Hence the Son is faid. Heb, v. 9. to have 
become " the author of eternal falvation unto all them. 
*■'• that obey him," i. e. that believe him ; ** for he that 
" believeth and is baptized, fliall be faved," Mark xvi^ 
16. To obey God, or Chrift, or tlie gofpel, are the fame 
in the language of fcripture. The exj^redion ufed in this 
place literally Signifies to fubmit, and conveys the idea of 
a voluntary obedience : And it is well known, that a free 
fubmiffion to Chrift and his righteoufnefs, is included in 
the faith of the chofen. The apoftlp reprefents the un- 
belief of the Jews by their not having; ^'' fubmitted them- 
"• felves to the righteouihefs of God," Rom. x. 3, Chrift: 
is exalted a Prince and a Saviour ; he is preached Lord 
and Chrift ; or as Peter afterward proclaimed him at Cse- 
laria, Ac^s x. 36. *' Lord of all." As fuch his people 
receive him ; they receive Chrift Jefus the Lord, Col. ii^ 
6. They willingly lubmit themfelves and furrender td 
him as their Lord, to be ruled by him, who hath redeem- 
ed them with his blood. Thus true faith in Chrift as a 
Saviour, engages the fubje£l to him as his fovereign ; anct 
accordingly unbelievers are defcribed to be fuch, " whor 
" would not that Chrift ftiould reign over them," Luke 
xix. 27. But they who are made willing in the day of his 
power, are the voluntary fubjetfts of his kingdom. Now 
to them who thus obey Chrift, the Holy Ghoft is faid to 
be given of God, they are all partakers of this divine Spi- 
rit, of whom they are born again, and brought to believe, 
being effe^lually called through the power of this omnipo- 
tent agent of the covenant ; and believing on the Lord 
Jefus Chrift, they receive the gift of the Holy Ghoft, Ads 
ii. 38. Even all that are called, whetlier Jew or Gen- 
tilej are " made to drink into one fnirit," -i Cor. xii, t^;. 



56 L E G T U R E S • O N 

Each believer hath a meafure of the Spirit in his gifts axii 
graces, according to the will and wifdom of our heavenly- 
Father. So then to obey is to believe ; and thofe on 
whom this divhie witnel's is beflowed, are all and only 
them -who through grp.ce are brought to the obedience of 
faith. Thus our apoftle declares concerning the Gentiles 
in general, who were called, A6ls xv. 8. " That God 
*' bear them watnefs, giving them the Holy Ghoft.'' 

But the main point is the teftimony of this glorious per- 
fon unto the truth, that the Father raifed up his Son Jefus, 
and hath exalted him with his right-hand ; for, though 
the fubjeft in purfuit is the refurre^tion of Chrift, yet theib 
cannot be feparated in the teftimony of the Holy Ghoft. 
The witnefs of the apoftles could reach no farther than 
the infallible proofs they had of Jefus being alive after his 
paffion, or at fartheft that after the moft: convincing evi- 
dence that he was truly the felf-fame perfon, and no other 
than the Lord who was crucified, fome of them faw him 
afcend towards heaven ; but the Holy Ghoft came down 
from heaven in confequence of his a£lual feffion at the 
right-hand of God, as will hereafter be feen from chap. ii. 
33. So that the witnefs of the Spirit necefiarily includes 
a teftimony of the Saviour's exaltation, which neverthelefs 
terminates firft on his refurre^lion from the dead, without 
which he could never have been received into glory. The 
queftiori is, how the Holy Ghoft became a witnels of this 
wonderful, but certain and interefting fa6l ? And according 
to fcripture, the Holy Ghoft may be faid to witnefs as a 
fpirit of prophecy, Heb. x. 15* The Holy Ghoft is ftiled 
a witnefs of the death of Chrift as a facrifice for fin, and 
the efficacy thereof to the putting it away, accordmg to 
the fcope of the place, on account of his having fpoken by 
the prophets concerning the remiffion of fins : he is there- 
fore called a witnefs, even becaufe he foretold what impli- 
ed a fatisfaclion to be made for fin by the blood-lhedding 
of the Meffiah, through which alone forgivenefs could be 
obtained ; but this is not fo diredly to the purpofe ; our 
bufinefs is to confider in what way the Holy Ghoft did 
iidually teftify after the afcenfion of Chrift, that he wssi 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 57 

Vifea from the dead; and this he did both externally and 
alfo in an internal manner. 

Firsty We may conlider his external evidence, whicH 
extended to all wherever the gofpel was preached in the 
jprimitive times ; it lay open to the view of every fpe£Vatoir 
or hearer of the word, called or uncalled, and was given 
more efpecially as a fign for the convi<Siion of unbelievers. 
The miraculous operations of the Holy Ghoft were doubt- 
lefs one kind of telHmony he gave to the refurre<^ion of 
Chrift. Thefe confifted in extraordinary powers commu- 
nicated to the apoliles for the fpreading of the gofpel^ as 
by the gift of tongues, together with that fpiritof wifdoin, 
utterance and boldnefs with which thofe firfl: arid great 
minifters were infpired ; this aftoriiftied their enemies, 
A6ls iv, 13. arid tended to convince the world of their 
divine mifliorl; and to promote the credit of the doftrine^ 
they preached j befides the miracles they wrought, fuch 
as healing the lick, cafting out devils, arid conveying mira- 
culous powers to otherk, by the laying ori of their hands 
in the fight of all men ; fo that with great power oi: abili- 
ty, as the word fignifieth, gave the apoftles witnefs to the 
refurre^lion of the Lord Jefus, A£ls iv. 33* Add to this 
their amazing fuccefs, which was riot by their nower or 
jBight, but by the Spirit of the living God. Thus the 
Holy Ghoft in a variety of inftanceS attended the apoftles 
in their miriiftrations in every place, and it might truly be 
i*aid, on account of his wonderful operations^ that great • 
grace was iipori them all } and this was one way in which 
the Holy Spirit became a ivitriefs with thefe chofen dif- 
ciples of the refurredion of Jefus. I fee no room to quefti- 
on that this exterrial evidence of the Spirit is what the 
apoftle chiefly if not folely intends in this place, firice he is 
fpeaking to the high-prieft arid other unbelieving Jews ; 
befidcs the evidence of theiri who are properly witnefies of 
our Saviour's refurre£lion, and of the Holy Ghoft Confider- 
ed under that character, was to be laid before the world ; 
. and confequently muft be by foniething external and vifi- 
bler fomething adapted to, and level with the capacity ©f 

H 



^8 L E C t U R E S O N 

fnen ^s feafonable creattires, and fuch as natural men cart' 
receive. Such were the wonderful works wrought hy 
the power of the Spirit referred to. Indeed as hath been 
truly obferved, a miracle proves nothing immediately ; 
but that there is a caufe equal to the effect : but fmce a 
real miracle is unqueftionably the finger of God, it is a 
manifeft proof of hiff integrity, by whofe hand it is per- 
formed, and confirms hrs veracity in the atteftation he 
makes of a fa^l upon his own knowledge, and confequently 
of tlie fa£l itfelf : for it cannot with decency be fappofed 
that the omtiifcient and faithful Jehovah would fet his feal 
to an impoftor or a lie : we may therefore juftly efteem 
the extraordinary and miraculous works by the apoftles, 
and their amazing fuccefs through the efficacious operati- 
ons of the Spirit, whereby they triumphed over the inve- 
terate prej"udices of Jews and Gentiles in every place, as 
a glorious proof of the divine Spirit with them to the world, 
that Jefus was ri-fen again : which proof ftands recorded 
to the condemnation of unbelievers ;. for herein, befides 
the abundant and fuficient teftimony of men, they have 
let before them alfo the witnefs of God. But, 

Secondly^ There is another Way in which the Holy 
'Ghofl anfwers this ehara£ler, namely, by his internal wit- 
Tiefs, which is peculiar to the faithful, and refults from 
his work and abode in their hearts ; thus it is declared, i 
John v. lo. *' He that believeth on the Son of God, hath 
** the witnefs in himfelf." Nothing is more defpifed by ma- 
i^y, as foolifli and enthufiaftical, thari the work and wit- 
iiefs of the Spirit inhis faints, on which vital religion de- 
pends. I lliould rejoice in the convi<rtion of any fuch igno- 
rant fcoller ; but my view is principally the eftablilhrnent 
of them that believe ; it will therefore not be impertinent, 
and I hope it may be u'feful, "that I attempt to clear this 
pafTagefrom the cloUd drawn over it by ihe falfe glolfes' 
and bold contradidions of fome. It is affeding to fee men 
who have employed their fuperior talents with fuccefs, in 
ftating the external evidenee of chriilianTty, as if they 
were llr angers to the power of the gofpel ; God knoxveth, 
on every oc-caiion bending their utmoil force againll the 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 59 

pperations of the Holy Spii^t on the heart, whereby he 
becomes a witnels in the faithful! Som-e deny that ^he 
apoftle here appeals to an inward teftimony of the Spirit, 
and infinuate that he f])eaks of the extraordinary powers 
which believ-ers obtained, who could not but credit the rea* 
lity of thofe powers of which they were confcious. Ac- 
cording to thefe gentlemen therefore when the apoftle 
faith, '* He that believeth hath the witnefs in himfelf/' 
he appeals to the pov/ers of the Spirit which the believ- 
er had received, manifeil in their eiTe£ls ; and this they 
would have to be that witnefs of the Holy Ghoft whereof 
Peter fpeaks : So that in re&lity this inward witnefs de- 
pends on an external evidence, and comes to nothing raore 
than a certain confcioufnefs of extraordinary powers re- 
ceived ; which being exerted, witneffed to the fubje<5l that 
Jetus was rifen from the dead. And who cannot lee that, 
according to this, it is the vilible efFe£l of this miraculous 
power, and not the power itfelf, which is truly and pror 
perly the teftimony a believer receives, but can this be 
ftiled " ^ witnefs in hhnfelf?" Befides thefe very men al- 
low, yea they infift, that thefe extraordinary gifts of the 
Spirit hath long ceafed in the church. Thus we are at 
once fecured from any enthufiaftic notion of an inward tef- 
timony of the Spirit common to the fiaithful, and every 
believer is cut off from any expeftationoffmdingthis wit- 
nefs in himfelf, fo plainly afferted by the apoftle. It is 
well for the chriftian that the fcripture cannot be broken . 

But a little refle6lIon may fliew this confined interpre- 
tation unjuft. The apoftle John is not diftinguifliing the 
faithful one from another j he is confidering mankind as 
children of God or children of the devil : and with refpe(^t 
to the former, he does not fay this or tlie other believer 
hath the witnefs in himfelf; on the contrary the indivi- 
dual pronoun He, determines the fenfetobe univerfal and 
particular, and confequently that every renewed perfon 
hath this teftimony in his own breaft. And as to the 
palfage in the Acls we are upon, Peter fpeaks indefinitely 
of them that obey the gofpel of Chrift ; nor Ihould any 
man take the liberty as fome preufme, to confiiit the tc:;t 



6o LECTURES ON 

\>y paraphrafing the fentence thus, " them that pbey him ;" 
3. e. fay' they, " the apoftles and many others who hav? 
*' fubmittcd to his governnient," there being no fuch li- 
mitation in the fcope or words of the infpired writer^. 
That the witnefs which the believer ha^h in himfelf, afr 
ferted in this claufe, is to be underftood of a tettimony, 
which arifeth in the heart or confpience of every one that 
is called, and not to be confined to the miraculous pow- 
ers of the Hply Ghoft, with which fome only were endowed 
even in the primitive times, is clear frorn the obvious de« 
fign of the apoftle. He wrote his epiftle with a view to 
eftablifli ^he difciples in the do£lrjhe of Chirift, relating 
to his appearance in the flelh, and that each one born of 
^he Spirit might know that he believed on his name; to. 
this end he afferts that " the Son of God was mahifefte(i 
*' to take away our fins j" and then declares the infallible 
proof which he and others had of this truth, even after. 
his refurredion from the dead. He declares, chap. i. 
*' That they had heard, feen, looked upon, and handled 
*' of the word of life;" and goes on to certain criterions 
of the regenerate, among which this is one, namely, " he 
*' thatbelieveth hath the witnefs in himfelf." The wit- 
nefs of what ? Why doubtlefs of this, that Jefus who was 
God rnanifeft in the flelli, having ai^ually made propitia- 
tion by the blood of the crofs, rofe from the dead, afceiid- 
ed to glory, and lives with the Father to interceed for his. 
people. Now of this, faith the apoftle, the believer. 
*' hath the witnefs in himfelf:"- i. e. he hath by the work 
of the Spirit in his own heart an undeniable proof that 
Jefus is rifen ; which exa6bly correfponds with the nature 
of that hope unto which the regenerate are begotten, i 
Pet. 1. 3. It is a lively hope grounded in the refurreftioo 
of Jefus Chrift from the dead, raifed by the agency of 
that Spirit which the Father beftowed in confequence of 
the exaltation of his Son, who died for our fins and rofe 
again : So that whoever is quickened by the Spirit of life 
in Chrift, hath a witnefs in himfelf that Jefus, whom he 
trufteth, is raifed from the dead. And is there any thing 
abfurd in this teftimony? Is it not clear andmoft certain- 
ly true, that if quickening grace, regeneration and faving 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 6^ 

faith are of the Spirit, fent down from the Saviour, whp. 
fits at the right-hand of God, as the fcriptures declare, 
then every one that believes hath this v^itnels in himfelF, 
the Holy Ghoft, in the execution of his office, and by 
|:hefe efficacious influences of his grace, muft be an infal^ 
iible witnefs ]n the called, that Jefus who fends him is 
rifen and exalted. This divine operation is tt aiy myfte- 
rious, and what the world canno|; receive, and it is no 
caufe of wonder that natifral men fliould coiitradi6l the 
things of the Spirit they are not able to difcern. But 
admitting this work in the foul, wliich, would to God he 
that oppofeth hii)xfelf to the truth, might experience, the 
ireafon of this evidence to the happy fulDJe£l, for this 
kind of proof is purely perfonal, is fo obvious as fcarce to 
be denied ; the chriftjan indeed hath not always a pra£ti- 
pal fenfe of this joyful aiTurance of his Saviour's refurrec- 
tion, the ground of his hope, which refuks from the quick- 
ening of the Spirit ; this greatly depends on his frame ; 
tut he that is the fubjedl of a divine change by the pow- 
er of the Holy Ghqft, whofe miflion is from the exalted 
Redeemer, muft needs be poffeiTed of a virtual proof in his 
own experience that Jefus is alive from the dead. How 
is it poflible that a man begotten to a lively hope, by the 
refurredlion of Chrift from the dead, which belongs to the 
charafter of every chriftian, I fay, how can it be that this 
man Ihould be deftitute of a \yitnefs in himfelf that Jefus 
is rifen? it is therefore moft rational, and confequently 
without any the leaft tin6lure of enthufiafm, that the apo- 
ftle in the paflage referred to ; is underftood of that in- 
ward teftimony Avhich refults from the work of the Spi- 
rit in the faithful to the reliirreftionof him in whom they 
believe ; but whether it is becoming in any one to wrelt 
the fcripture, in order to contradi£l an appeal of this na- 
ture, and to deride the witnefs of the Holy Ghoil in his 
people, the Reader will judge. 

But this teftimony of the Spirit in the faints unto their 
Lord's refurredion is not confined to his general work 
on their hearts, whereby they are quickened and effedu- 
ally called. It like wife appears in the fame manner it docs 



6z LECTURES ON 

inrefped of the divine authority of the fcriptures, name- 
ly, by urging on their mind the witnefs of the apoftles 
and other external evidences of the important event, 
whereby they are powerfully convinced and fully perfuad- 
ed that he is rifen indeed. Till the Spirit doth thus as 
it were join witnefs with the confcience of a man, and 
^hereby renders efFe£lualthe arguments or motives arifing 
from th^ eyidenpe given, he is not ellabliihedin this foun- 
dation of God. Now as a judicious writer "^ obferves, on 
the like illuminations or efficacious impreffions of the Spi» 
rit, in confirmation of the fcriptures, it may juftly be not- 
ed, that the inward witnefs I affert, or rather which is 
alTerted by the infpired apoftie, is by no means enthufi- 
afm ; for it is a jdifcovery or confirmation in the mind and 
confcience by rneans and inflruraents ; wherpas every onq 
knows^ that enthufiafm, in our common acceptation of the 
word, is mere imagination and conceit, without any rea- 
fon or motive grounded in evidence, and that the deluded 
fubjeft pours contempt on thefe, and indeed, for the mofl 
part on all other moral caufes whatever* Thus without 
reje61:ing external evidence as a reafon or motive to believe 
any fa6l that concerns our falvation, we may boldly de- 
clare, that the divine faith, proper to a regenerate man, 
is fupernatural and not mere moral fuafion, but as the apof- 
tie expreifes, it is in the demonitration of the Spirit and 
with power J- or in other words, that the faith of the cho- 
fen doth not iland in the wifdom of men, but in the power 
of God, I Cor. ii, 4, 5. 

We live in a day of prevailing infidelity, wherein fcep- 
tics abound, and ftiould be furniilied with arguments to 
ilop the mouth of a fcornful unbeliever ; nor was the church 
ever io amply provided with means for that purpofe. The 
bold libels of deifts have produced many learned and folid 
anfwers in defence of revelation : but Sir, I am forry the 



* Dr. John Edwards, a man of fingttlar piety and learning, whofe 
works are too fwU ©f flrong reafoning and folid arguments, on every point, 
to be charged with enthufiafm, without manifeft prejudice ; fee liim on 
the authority, Ilile and perfedion of fcripture. Vol. I. page 48. 1693, 



PRIMITIVE CHRiSTIANITY. 63 

caution is needful; when you read feme of thefe ingenu- 
ous and able authors, who have well defended the exter- 
nal evidence of chriftianity, with all due refpeft to their 
chara6ler, you muft beware, left you are ftumbled in rela- 
tion to points of chriftiah experience, for it is melancholy 
to obferve, that a deift cannot more oppofe the authenti- 
city of fcripture, than fome men who plead for it feem 
averfe to the notion of an efficacious work of the Spirit of 
God in them that are called. Thofe 'treatifes on the ve- 
racity of thefacred writings, which occafionaliy flrike at: 
the operations and witnefs of the Holy Ghoft in believers, 
appear to me the moft dangerous means of flattering mere 
who are deftitute of the life and power of godlinefs to their 
ruin. But I hope the Reader is convinced, that there is 
no reafon for rejeding the notion of an appeal to the in- 
ward teftimony of the Spirit in the claufc abovemention- 
ed ; for if the primitive chriftians, as thefe writers urge, 
inight be faideach to hare a witnefs in himfelf of the re- 
furre6lion of Jefus, arifing from his being confcious of ex- 
traordinary powers communicated to him, much more 
muft the quickening and comforting influences of the Holy 
Ghoft, which proceed on a convidlionof the Redeemer's be- 
ing raifed from the dead, be a teftimony of this glorious 
event in the fubjed of his grace. In one word, the apof- 
tle exprefsly declares, that " he that believe th hath the 
*' witnefs in himfelf." And is itnot ftrange, that any wh6 
pretend to the faith of t^e gofpel, fliould prefume to affert, 
that he doth not appeal to an inward teftimony of the Spi- 
rit, and to make way for the credit of this confident af- 
fertion, endeavour to fix an odium on the notion of fuch a 
teftimony, by ftiiing thofe who avow it " modern enthu- 
" fiafts !" But fiirely this can never be taken for reafon or ar- 
gument ; it only Fnews that men of great ingenuity and 
learning in other refpe6ls, may be under ftrong prejudices 
againft a fupernatural work and v/itnefs of the Spirit in 
t!^e hearts of God's people, however clearly revealed to b@ 
the experience, not only of modern, but alfo, of ancient 
believers, even of all the faithful from the beginning of chri- 
ftianity. Refled then, O Chriftian, on thine own expe- 
rience, and be not alhamedto own, but gladly rejoice that 



;^4 LECTURES ON 

thou haft from the Spirit that dwelleth in thee, a fure ana 
ftanding teftitriony of thy Saviour's refurre£lion I 

Thus not bnly the apoftles, but the Holy Ghoft alfoj 
ivitneffed the refiirrfcdion of Jefu-s from the dead. He did 
fo by the miratulous powers with which the apoftles an^ 
others were endowed in the firft ages of chriftianity ; and 
likewife by the operation of his grace in them that believed^ 
The vilible eflefts of thefe extraordinary powers were a 
fign to the world for the conviftion of many, while his 
work and teftimony in the hearts of them that were call- 
ed pofleffed each happy fubje^c of his grace with a wit- 
nefs in himfelf, that God had indeed raifed up Jefiis who 
was crucified and flain. And truly, fince this work in the 
hearts of the redeemed, proceeds on the certainty of 
Chrift's refurre^lion, which lies at the bottom of their 
hope, it is fo far from being enthufiafm, modern enthufiafm, 
as fome modern* advocates for revelation have been pleaf- 
ed to call it, that nothing can be more rational, for on a 
fuppofition of fuch a work of the Spirit, it is impoffible ito 
fliould be other wife. 

How undeniable and fatisfa£lory then is the evidence 
t)f Chrift's refurre^ion ! " If we receive the witnefs of 
*' men, the witnefs of God is greater,'* i John v. 9. And 
efpecially as this witnefs of the Holy Ghdft terminates iii 
the heart of every chriftian, by the work of his grace. 
Then inquire, my Friend : Hath he quickened and begot- 
ten thee to a lively hope by the return of Jefus from the 
dead? Without this experience, a fimple credit of the 
fcriptures, and this wonderful fa6l they relate, will leave 
thee fliort of falvation : But with this divine hope^ be not 
afraid, thy redemption draweth nigh, only let thy con- 
verfation be in heaven, whence thy Saviour is coming ; 
thou muft Ihortly fee deatli and corruption, but thy dead 
body like his fliall arife, *■'• according to the working 
*' whereby he is able to fubdue all things to himfelf." 

What a fearful condition muft unbelievers be in, when^ 
Jefus (hall be revealed from heaven, ro take vengeance on' 



i^RIMJfTlVE CHRISTIANITY. $s 

tihem who deny his refurre<ftion ! At his tribunal feat, 
how will they Hand it, when all thefe chofen witneffes ftiall 
rife up in judgment againft theni ; and the Holy Ghoft: 
alfo, whofe teftimony they have rejected, and it may be 
blafphemed 1 O that thofe who fcornfuUy fet themfelves 
againft the trath and power of Chriftianity, were awak- 
ened to confider, that they Would hearken to the voice of 
the Spirit they at prefent defpife ! " To-day, faith the 
" Holy Ghoft, even while it is called to-day, harden not 
*' your hearts." And againft the difobedient, he himfelf 
will be a witnefs to their everlafting confufion 1 On the 
pther hand, how defirable are the renewed teftimonies of 
the Spirit in the heart. Every fenfible operation of the 
Holy Ghoft and fealing of th^t divine Comforter, is a frefti 
witnefs in and to the believer. O that under the power- 
ful influences of his grace, we might daily more and more, 
by our faith, love and fruit, hold forth a rifen Saviour^ 
and manifeft to all, that indeed we are rifen withhim? In 
a word, let us earneftly plead for this arm of the Lord 
with the preaching of the gofpel, that many who are now 
dead in fiii, being quickened, may believe on the Son o£ 
God, that being buried with Chrift in baptifm unto deaths 
like as he was raifed up from the dead, by the glory of 
the Father, even fo they alfo may "viralk in newnefs of life^ 
to \he praife of his grace. 



L E C T tJR E 



6ii LECTURES Oi4 



LECTURE VI. 



Tbc ascension of Jesus. His session at the' right-hand 
of God, 



HAVING confidered the witnefs of the Spirit, with 
that of the apoftles to our Lord's refurreftion, we 
flow return to the famous firft fermon which Peter preach- 
ed at Jerufalem. That interefting point being manifefty 
he proceeds to fhew how it came to pafs that the difciples 
were endowed from on high in the wonderful manner his 
Audience had feen. This glorious part of his difcourfe is 
recorded, A6ls ii. 33, 34 and 35 verfes, in the following 
terms, '' Therefore being by the right-hand of God ex- 
^^ alted, and having received of the Father the promife 
*' of the Holy Ghoft, he hath flied forth this which ye 
^'' now fee and hear : For David is not afcended into the 
'* heavens ; but he faith himfelf. The Lord faid unto my 
*' Lofd, Sit thou on my right-hand, until I make thy foes 
*' thy footflool." Note here in general, that the apoftle 
doth not barely affert, but makes it evident that Chrift 
was to afcend to the throne in the heavens, in which he 
is an example to preachers in every age. His call and 
fiirniture as a minifter, were both extraordinary, yet he 
aflfumes no dominion over the faith of his hearers, but 
proves his do(ftrine from the oracles of God, and endea- 
vours to perfuade the Jews, by an appeal to the writings 
of Davidj whom they uli owned a prophet: In like man^ 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. % 

per the minifters of Jefus are to convince galn-fayers, and 
p feek their eonverfion, not by dogmatic affertions, but 
iby reafoning out of the fcriptures, there being no other 
jnethod adapted to afFe£l the confciences of men with the 
authority of God, without which they cannot be faved. 

But to return. In this pafTage a dopr is opeped in hea- 
yen ; and O how illuflrious and delightful the fcene ! Be- 
hold, Chriftian, thy Saviour fit^ there, crowned with glo- 
icy and honor, to pour out bleffings on his people, and re^ 
v/ard them that hate him I The following particulars are 
|t;o be noted in this divine profpe<Sl, namely, the alcenfion 
pfjelus, his feffion at the right-hand of God, the hand 
of the Father in placing him there, what paffed between 
them on his being exalted, and the period of his prefent 
fituation : all which afford nourilhment to the faith of God's 
people, and are a ground of their joy in the Lord : Let 
us then briefly atten4 to each in its order. 

That Chrill lives exalted in the heavens, is a truth of 
the utmoll importance to the faithful, for we are faved by 
his life with the Father ; but this is impoffible, if he al- 
jcended not to him ; the apofUe therefore argues the point, 
and proves, that he whom God hath exalted, and confe^ 
quently who is afcepded, is not the Pfalmift, but Chrift, 
His reafoning ftands thus, ver. 34. 'f For David is not 
f' afcended into the heavens f ^ for he had before obferv^ 
ed, that his body remained in the ftate of the dead ; but 
he, David, faith hinifelf ; ^' The Lord faid unto my Lord, 
f i. e. the Mefliah, Sit thou on my right-hand." Not 
David therefore, but Chrift is afcended. Can any thing 
be more conclufive or juft? The prophet lay buried 'in 
his fepulchre with the Jews, and therefore could not be 
afcended; but he fpake of the Meffiah, whom God would 
raife up to fit on his throne, even Jefus who is now alive 
from the dead, and fits at the right-hand of God, which 
implies his afeeniion ; and accordingly Jefus is gone into 
tieaven. 



68 LECTURESON 

From this reafoning of the apoftle it appears, that the 
afcenfion of our Lord has refpe6t to his human nature,' 
and is no other than his going or being carried up in the' 
body from earth into heaven: a local remove, by which a 
change of place is inferred: fo that Jefus iio longer cor- 
porally relides in this lower world, but is retained in the 
heavens, in which he is received. This is varioufly ex- 
preffed : It is declared, he was parted or taken up froni 
them : At other times he is faid to^o : And again, that' 
he ^ent up to heaven, for he was adive in afcendihg by his 
own power and right ; and at the fame time in'reality, as 
will hereafter be fhewn, the Fatlier exalted him. Of this 
afcenfion of the Meffiah the Old Teftament faints were 
not unacquainted. It has been thought that the tranlla- 
tion of Enoch, and the aflumption of Elijah, were fhadows' 
of this great event ; inftances which at leaft fliew a cre- 
dibility of a bodily entrance into the heavenly ftate *• 
However Noah's ark will be admitted a figure of Chrift,' 
out of which the patriarch afcended, as Jefus from the 
grave, i Pet. iii. 20. And the returning of Mofes's ark to 
Mount-Sion, and placing it in the tabernacle, after many 
years dwelling in the houfe of Ahimelech, fome confider 
in the fame point of light, which feems favoured by the 
prophet, who referring to that joyful feafon, cries out; 
*' Lift up your heads, O ye gates, ^nd be ye lift up ye 
*' everlalling doors, and the King of glory (hall conie in. 
« Who is this King of glory ? The Lord of Hofts.'* 
Pfalm xxiv. 17. And further, it is mahifeft from Heb. . 
ix. 24. that the entrance of the Jewifti high-prieft within 
the veil, on the day of atonement, typified that of our 



* Note, not that any natural or corruptible body can be fuppofcd capa- 
ble of the heavenly glory : " Flefh and blood cannot inherit the kingW 
*' domof God," i Cor. xv. 50. Hence they who fhall be found alive at 
the coming of Chrift, and therefore fleep or die not, " fhail be changed 
" in a moment :" In hke manner, no doubt, the bodies of thefe faints 
were inftantan-coufly transformed into a fpiritaal incorruptible Hate : 
Nor is there any difficulty in conceiving this fudden and wonderful change 
by the Almighty, though in an atom, or the fmalleft article of time that 
can be imagined ; which the apoftle finely illuftrates by the " twinkling- 
*' o-f au eye." ■ ;■ 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 69 

forerunner Jefus into heaven, the true holy place. Thus 
there have been feveral, types or emblems of the afceniion 
i)i oiiv Saviour into the he?lvens- 

There are Ukewife many fcripture teftirnonles, beetles 
the pafTage before us, which plainty refer to this grand 
and important article of faith. Daniel faw in a vifion 1 
*' Th6 Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven to 
'^ the Ancient of <^ays, and they brought him near before 
" him, and there was given him dominion, glory, and a 
" kingdom,'* chap, vji. 13, 14, which cannot refer to his 
fecond appearance. Since then he will come, not to 
receive but to 4eliver up a kingdom to the Father, i Cor. 
XV. 24= Yea thefe ancient prophefies go farther than bear-- 
ly to point out that the Meffiah ihould afcend ; they like- 
wife enter into the glorious circumftances in which he was 
to go up. The Saviour did not afcend alone, and in ii- 
lence, as when he defcended to his ftate of humiliation, 
tut in a magnificent manner, with a ihining retinue as 
became him, who having by the death of his crofs, tri- 
umphed over principalities and powers, was entering into 
his glory, to fill all things'^" for the completing of his me- 
diatorial kingdom, Itfeems no vain conjefture that the 
faints who came out of their graves after our Lord's re- 
furreclion went with him to glory ; for is it reafonabie 
to fuppofe that they returned to the earth? If not, they 
are doubtlefs received into heaven, and why not with the 
Saviour ? But of this we are certain, that j ei'us aiceaded 
with a multitude of the heavenly hofir, Pfalm Ixviii. 17. 
*' The chariots of God are twenty thoufand, even thou* 
*' fands, or many thouiands, of angels ; The Lord is among 
*^ them as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou haft afcend- 
*' ed oh high.'* And again, Pfalm xlvii. 5. "God is 

* Eph. Iv. 10. " To fill all things," I, e. all things needful to the per- 
fed;ing his body the church ; as appears from what follows; for in refpe^ 
of- the oniniprcfence effential to' his divine nature, he filled all things be- 
fore his afcenfion, and they who underlhind and confider the nature of 
corporal fufeflancc, which cannot be infinitely extended, will rejed; tiie 
notion of the ubicjuity of our Saviour's natural body as entirely falfe and 
abfurd. 



^Q L E C T U R E S O N 

^^ gone up with a (hout, the Lord with the found oF^ 
*' trumpet." Thus we are told, i Thefs. iv. i6. " Thq 
" Lord liimfelf {hall defcend from heaven with a fhout, 
*'' v/ith the voice of the archangel and with the trump of 
*'' God ;" which agrees with the report to the difciples, 
A6\s i. II. From whence it appears, that the afcenfioi| 
of Jefus was in like manner as hereafter his coming froiTi 
.heaven (liall be, namely, local, yifib|e, and glorious. 

To the witnefs of the prophets we have pur Lord's 
own predi^lion that he Ihopld afcend j of which he is 
fhought to give early intimation in his difcourfe with 
Nicodemus, John iii. la. but in that with his difciples 
<on the night in which he was betrayed, he is plain and 
exprefs, Johr^xvi. 2, '-^ 1 go to the Father." And again, 
chap. xvi. a8. " 1 came from the Father, and am come 
•^ into the world : again, 1 leave tlie world and go to the; 
*' Father." This they well underftood, as appears froni 
the following verfe, " Lo, now^fpeakeft thou plainly, and 
"■ fpeakeft no proverb." And in chap. xiv. 29. after 
repeating the fame thing, Jefus faith, *'• And now I have 
**- told you before it come to pafs, that when it is come 
*' to pafs, ye might believe." And accordingly, on the 
inorning he rofe, he fays to Mary Magdalene, " Touch 
"- me not, for I am not yet afcended to my Father, but go 
** to my brethren, and fay unto them, I a-fcend,'* &c. 
Had the difciples never underftood that the Lord was to 
afcejid, this meffage had been ftrange and perplexing ; but 
he reminds them of what he foretold, for this reafoa 
among others, left they ftiould flatter themfelves that he 
would tarry vyith them henceforth, and fet up a kingdom 
on earth, now he was rifen from the dead, which they 
iiill fondly expe£led, and that at his departure they might 
be fully perfuaded that he w^as intleed gone to the Father, 
as he declared before his deceafe. ' 

It has been very properly noted, that there was no 
neceffity for the difciples to fee their Mafter rife out of 
his grave, fmce he was to abiot: many days, and to afford 
them repeated and undeniable proof of hi's being alive from 



PRlMltlVE CHRISTIANITV. ft 

Ihe dead, but the article of his afcenfion is very differ ent- 
iy circumftanced. After he was taken up into heaven, he 
was no more to be feen in this world, it was therefore 
tequifite that they would behold Him afcend to their full 
fatisfa6lion, that they might teftify on their own know- 
ledge whither he was gone, and accordingly we find the ra 
feye-witnefTes of the fa6l in the moft perfect manner that 
can be conceived. 

On the credit of fcripture nothing can be more certain 
br plain than that Jefus did truly and properly afcend, or go 
tip into heaven bodily in the fight of his difciples : They 
kfford a particular account of this important event, rvela- 
ing to the time, place, and manner of its accompliftiment. 
It was forty days after his refurre<9;ion, on Mount-Olivet, 
in the confines of Bethany, near if not on the felf-fame fpot^ 
to which Chrift often retired, and where once under dread- 
flil apprehenlions of wrath, being in an agony, he fweat 
dorps as blood : So that from the very place in which he 
was heretofore feen in the utraoft diftrefs, defcending into 
an hell of darknefs and fufferings, we now behold the Re- 
fleemer alive from the dead, with gladnefs, afcending to. 
lieaven. How different the fcenel — A dying Saviour 
filled with horror and anguifh, and covered with fhame 1 
• — Arifen Jefus, with joy, and triumph, advancing to liis 
glory! 

But the matiner in which our Lord was removed, is 
Hill more pundlually recited. The evangelift Mark thus 
relates it, " So then after the Lord had fpoken unto them, 
** he was received up into heaven 1" Mark xvi. 19. And 
Luke in his gofpel, chap. xxiv. 50, 51. declares, that 
*' he led them but as far as Bethany, and he lift up his 
'* hands and bleffed them ; and it came to pafs while he 
'* bleffed them, he was parted from them, and carried 
** up into heaven." But in A<^ls i. 9, 10. he is very par- 
ticular and ftriking, " And when he had fpoken thefe 
'*' things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud 
*' received him out of their fight, and while they looked 
** tttjdfaftly toward heavcu ss be went up," &c,. Tliic 



^2 LECTURES G N 

was the manner in which Jefus was parted from his difi 
ciples ; not by diiappearing at once, or vanifhing out of 
their fight, as on fome other occafions : No, it was not d 
ludden or hafty tranfport, but he moved up before theni 
while their eyes were fixed upon him ; fo that they faw 
him, and iledfaftly looked as he advanced to the vifible 
heaven, till at length they beheld the cloiid receive him, 

To underftand this cloud metaphorically of angels, as 
fome have fuggefted, feems rather to prejudice the account^ 
and to weaken the apoftles evidence : who need be tol4 
that it is not the part of an hiftorian to deal in figures ? 
And the evangelift exprefsly declares that a cloud receiv- 
ed the Lord ; the fight of which was a natural and evi- 
dent proof to them that beheld it, that he was taken up 
into heaven. Neither Luke hirtifelf, nor any other prefent 
on the occafion, appear to have the leaft apprehenlion of 
angels; and if their teftimony is at all to be regarded, no 
doiibt they were in the perfect exercife of their natural 
lenfes, and could not be deceived, but in reality faw what 
they relate : We may therefore conclude it was truly and 
properly a cloud diftinguiflied in the vifible heavens; a 
cloud prepared to enclofe the body of Jefus, in which he 
w^s conveyed to the higher regions by myriads of angels, 
"who, though unfeen by the difciples, we know attended 
the victorious P.edeemer to his palace in glory. 

It is with reafon fuppofed, that this cloud was at a con- 
fide rable dillance from the earth, and it is plain, that from 
the moment Chrift began to be lifted up, his difciples had 
their eyes upon him ; fo that they beheld him gradually 
mount in the air, higher and higher, till he reached the 
bright cloud, into which, as foraetimes the natural funy 
ihey faw him enter, loft fight of his body, and faw him no 
more. And that they were not miftaken is clear from the 
Teftimony of the angels, " Ye men of Galilee, why ftand ye 
*^ gazing into heaven I this fame Jefus which is taken up 
" from you into heaven fhall fo com<=^ in like manner as ye 
*' have feen him go into heaven,^' ver. ii. Upon the 
'whole it appears that the apoftles were not under a decep- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 73 

tfon, neither was it a vifion but a real fa6l. Chrift was in- 
deed taken up into heaven, and they faw him go up in 
the manner defcribed ; there is therefore no colour of rea- 
lon for any hefitation concerning the truth of this grand 
and important affair ; and accordingly we find that the 
difciples fo far from doubting, or even regretting their 
Lord's being parted from them, that fully perfuaded he 
was gone to the Father, they worfliippcd him unfeen,^and 
exalted, " and returned to Jerufalem ; and how ? with 
*' tears and lamentation ? No, but with great joy, praifing 
*' and bleffing God," till endowed from on high, and then 
proceeded to preach him every where, with boldnefs, and 
with amazing fuccefs. Now, who that confiders this ac- 
count, and efpecially in connexion with the efFufion of the 
Spirit on the apoftles, can a moment queftion whether that 
this fame Jefus who defcended is likewife afcended to the 
Father? O my foul, turn up thine eyes with gratitude and 
joy : let thy affe£lions afcend like pillars of fmoke to thy 
blelTed Redeemer : Behold he is gone, he is gone up be- 
fore thee to prepare a place for thee I 

From the afcenllori of Chrift We proceed to his feffion 
'at the right hand of God. This glorious fubje^ hath been 
frequently handled ; nor have 1 any thing new to offer 
upon it, but (hall attempt only a brief explication of this 
ioyful affurance the gofpel affords. The defign of Peter 
is not barely to Ihew that Jefus is afcended, but alfo to 
reprefent his exalted ftate in the heavens ; and this is con- 
tained in the quotation from David, verfe 34. " Sit thou 
*' on my right hand." Of this exaltation our Lord bare 
witnefs before Pontius Pilate, Luke xxii. 69. "Hereafter 
** fliall the Son of man fit on the right hand of the power 
**• of God." And accordingly we are told, Mark xvi. 19. 
that when Jefus was received up into heaven, he fat on 
the right hand of God : And indeed the paifages which 
teftify the fame, are more than can now be recited : I fhall 
therefore only fubjoin the remarkable witnefs of Stephen 
the martyr, " Behold, faith he, I fee the heavens opened, 
*' and the Son of man (landing on the right hand of God," 

A. 



i4 LECTURES ON 

A<^s vli. ^6, It cantiot with decency be fuppofed that- 
this holy man uttered a falfhood in the view of eternity^ 
or would have prefumed to have committed his foul into' 
the hands of Jefus, as he inftantly did, had he been doubt- 
ful of the truth of what he declared. 

But how is Chrift at the right hand of God? And what is 
implied in this fituation ? We are not, with fome, to ima*. 
gine that the Father has bodily parts : God is afpirit > 
and the Father never was clothed with flefli. Here is 
therefore no comparifon between the right hand and the 
left, as when thefe expreffions are ufed of corporal beings J 
And that the phrafe is in this place purely metaphorical, 
is evident in that the prophet, foon after the words quot-' 
edin oiirtext, reprefents Jehovah the Father at the right 
hand of his Son whom he had exalted, Pfalm cx^ 5. " The 
" Lord at thy right hand lliall ilrike through kings in the 
*' day of his wrath." Now the Son's litiing at the right 
hand of the Father, confifts not with the Father's fitting, 
at the right hand of the Son, if the words are literally ta-. 
ken, but in a figurative fenfe they are eafily reconciled^ 
The aliufion here is to the cuflom of princes, who, it is 

f From Stephen's declafatioh to the San^edritft, admitting that the' 
heavens were properly opened, as at the baptifm of our Lord, and that 
th« martyr adtually faw Jefus {landing at the right hand of God, it ap- 
pears that there is a vifible difplay of the glory of the Father in the hea- 
venly temple, adapted to tile corporal fight of thofe, who, like the Savibur^ 
dwell there in a fpiritual and glorified body as Enoch, Elijah, &c.' 
Now in refpe«3: ©f this, J«fus may be truly declared, in a literal fenfe, atf 
the right hand of Gdd. The objedlion to the heavens being really divide 
ed, becaufe then it would have been a miracle if all that was prefcnt had 
not feen it, with; fubmiffion, feems of no force ; for why Ihould a miracle 
be thought firange in thi3=age, and on fo extrad-dinary an eccafion ? Be- 
fidesjin the cafe of Saul, when approaching Damascus, there was indeed- 
a bright fhlning light his companions beheld", but they heard not diftindly 
the voice, neither did they fee him that rpake,both which the perfeeutor 
did ; and that his fight of the Saviour was bodily, which neceflarily im- 
plies the 0|iening of the heavens, is clear from i Cor. x^v. 8. Ads ix. 17. 
and chap. xxii. 14. The heavens therefore might adually be open to^ 
this holy man, notv/ithftanding it was feen by none but himfelf : Never- 
thelefs the phrafe of Chrift's being at the right hand of God, in the lan- 
guage of prophecy, is rather metaphorical than literal; as in the paff^ge 
quoted by Peter from David. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, 7^ 

|:nown,on certain occafions have diftinguifhed their favour- 
ices by placing them at the right-hand of their throne; 
which anfwers to the account we have of our Saviour's 
fituation in heaven : He is faid to be at the right-hand of 
the throne of God and of the Majefty in the heavens, 
Heb. viii, i. compared with chap, xii, a. This however 
is far from implying, that the Man Chrift Jefus is made 
equal, much lefs that he is fuperior to him by whom he is 
exalted. Among men thi^ place is frequently given in to* 
ken of their fuperior rank ; but no fuch thought can be 
admitted, even of the Meffiah himfelf, in comparifon with 
the Father, whofe fervant he is : nor is this to be under- 
ftood of a local limitation, which would reduce the werds 
to a literal fenfe : the impropriety of which has already 
been (hewn. It is true, that the afcenf;on of Jefus in the 
body implies a change of place ; in confequenee of which 
his corporal prefence is locally confined in the heavens, 
and will continue fo till the reftitution of all things ; but 
the phrafein the text hath no refped to place, but jspure' 
ly expreffive of his ftate in the heavenly world, denoting, 

I. The honor and dignity to which he is advanced. 
Some pretend that in the Eaftern countries the left-hand 
is efteemed the moft honorable : But will any imagine that 
Solomon placed his mother, the queen, on his right-hand 
to difgrace her ? 1 Kings ii. 19. And certain it is, that 
we fee Jefus, who defpifed the (bame when fufFering for 
fm, " crowned with honor and glory,*' Heb, ii, g» Into, 
this he was to enter after his fuiterings, as foretold by the 
prophets, fjence in his difcourfe vi?ith the difciples when 
rifen from the dead, as they were walking toEmmaus, he 
faith, '^Ought not Chrift to have fuffered thefe things, and 
^' to enter into his glory ?" Luke xxiv. 26, Thus digni- 
fied he now fits at the right, hand of the throne in the hea- 
vens, receiving the honor due to his Majefty and merit, in 
the high praifes and adorations of the angels and faints, 
who ftand before and round about the throne, crying, " SaL 
" vation to our God which fitteth on the throne, and uutQ 
the Larab," Rev, vii. 9, 10, Again, 



76 LECTURES ON 

2. The power with which our Saviour is invefted, ia| 
another thing implied in this fentence. Thus Jefus faith, 
*' Ye fhall fee the Son of man fitting on the right hand of 
*' power," Mark xiv, 62. We have already feen, that; 
Daniel beheld in a vifion, dominion and a kingdom givers 
him by the Ancient of days, chap. vii. 14. This power 
of the Redeemer is fupreme, uniyerfal and unfpeakably 
great, to the glory of his name, and the joy of his peo- 
ple, as may hereafter be feen. Before his afcenfion, the, 
Lord faith, " All power is given unto me in heaven and 
*' in earth," Matt, xxviii. 18. And vi^e are told, Phil. 
ii. 9. that '' God hath highly exalted him, and given hin^ 
*' a name which is above every name.^* " He is over all ; 
*' yea, far above all heavens," Eph. iv. 10. The Father 
of glory hath fet him at his own right hand in heavenly 
places, " far above all principality and power, and might, 
*' and dominion, and every name that is named, not only^ 
" in this world, but alfo in that which is to come," Eph. 
i. 21. Thus, O Chrifiian, thy Saviour is exalted, " King 
*' of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and niade higlier thai\ 
" the heavens," Heb. vii. 26. This is the real ftate of. 
the afcended Jefus, " who became obedient unto death, 
*' even the death of the crofs." And further, 

3. His fitting at the right hand of God may denote the 
fatisfa6lion, joy and pleafure which Jefus has in commu- 
nion with the Father. This fituation implies nearnefs, 
fellowfliip and reft. If the ranfomed find fatisfadion and 
joy in beholding their Father's face in righteoufnefs, and 
when they awake in his likenefs, Ffalm xvii. 15. how 
much more muft the Redeemer himfeif be rejoiced in the 
throne of his glory ? I'his the prophet reft^rs to, Ffalm 
xvi. II. "Thou wilt fliew me the path of life: in thy 
'' prefence is fulnefs of joy : at thy right-hand there are 
" pleafures for ever more," 

Finally, The phrafe ftill further implies his continu- 
ance in this glorified ftate. Sitting is a pofture of reft; 
and Chrift will remain on his throne till he rifes up and 
comes forth unto judgment, as the fcriptures abundantly 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. yy. 

j[liew,"and our text in particular. So then the fefllon of 
Jefu§ at the right-hand of God imports his illuftrious (late 
^n the heavens, as crowned with glory, in vefted with power 
find filled with fatisfadion and joy in the fruition of his 
Father's prefence, and the honors that are paid him oa 
the throne, in which he (liall abide till his fecond appear- 
ance. Thus exalted 'is the Man who died at Mount Cal- 
vary, and who being raifed from the dead, afcended from 
earth into heaven. Great is this myftery of godlinefs : 
Still God manifeft in the flefh is the perfon of our adorable 
Mediator in whom, at the right-hand of the Father, we 
behold the human nature, indeed infinitely below the na- 
ture ofDiety, and unfpeakably inferior to that of the an- 
gels ; yet wonderfully dignified in honour and power, even 
far above the heavens themfelves I Glorious reward of 
the cruciating forrows and (liame endured on the crofs, 
when he made his foul an offering for hn ! And how full 
6' vindication is this of the v/ifdom and juftice of G>..l,' 
in ordaining the fleOi of his Son to thofe bitter fufferings, 
in anfwer to the cavil of unbelievers, who prefume to find 
fault with the fover^ign good pleafure of him who work- 
eth all things according to the counfel of his own will, 
to the praife of his grace» 

From this fituation of our glorified Redeemer with the 
Father, every pretence of his bodily prefence on earth :s 
entirely excluded. The notion of a corporal prefence in 
the facrament, as the Catholics teach in their dodrine of 
tranfubllantiation, is not only abfurd and fhocking, but it 
is in every fenfe and view, abfolutely inconfiftent with the 
perfon of Chrift, in and by the human nature, being feat- 
ed at the right hand of God, in the heavenly world, as the 
fcripture afferts, for '"• the heavens muft receive, i. e. re- 
^' tain him until the times of the reftitution of all things," 
A6ls iii. 2,1, From whence he is ready to be revealed; 
till then, a conceit of his bodily prefence on earth in any 
feafon, or under any circumftances whatever, is plainly 
a groundlefs and vain imagination. Neverthelefs, Be- 
liever, his promife is fure : This local circumfcription of 
9ur Saviour's body, interferes not with that fpiritual pre- 



;^ 3LECTURES0N 

fence he liath encouraged his people to expe£l in his church, 
and with his minifters to the end of the world. He is 
God and man ; and as, while on earth, he was in heaven, 
in refped of his deity, John iii. 13. in like manner he is 
EGW, in virtue of the fame divine nature, able to be, not- 
withllanding the prefent detention of his human nature ii| 
the world of glory, with his faints below, according to his 
■word. Wherefore, O Chriftian, whilll thou art looking 
to Jefus, the author and finiiher of thy faith, now on the 
throne in the heavens, expert the vifits of his love. '^ He 
^*> is faithful that hath promifedi" and bleffed are they 
who wait for him. 



LECTURE VII. 



T^e Father^ 5 concern in exalting his Son^ *wbo iminedi^ 
ately receives the Spirit at his hands ; with the nobh 
end of his continuance on the throne, ReJleSlions^ 



NOTHING yields the believer more fatisfaflion 
than the glorious ftate of his Redeemer in the hea- 
vens J and his joy is enhanced when he confiders by whom 
he is placed oh the throne. Now it is with this the apof- 
tle begins his account : " Therefore being by the right! 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. ^ 

*' hand of God exalted," A£ls ii. 33. This he likewifs: 
afferts m another difcourfe : " Him hath God exalted 
" with his right-hand," chap. v. 31. So then Jefus i^ 
crowned by the Father himfelf : He is not only at the 
right-hand of God, but advanced to this dignity and 
power with or by the right-hand of the Father j a myf- 
tery that demands our peculiar attention. We havefeen 
In the preceding ledlure, that the right-hand of God is a 
phrafe metaphorieally ufed by the prophet ; and this fur- 
ther appears by the various applications of it in the fub- 
jed before us. And here I apprehend it denotes the ex- 
ertion of his power according to his oath. The right-* 
hand of the Lord is his glorious power ; " Thou halt a, 
** mighty arm, ftrong is thy hand, and high is thy rigkt- 
" hand," Pfalm Ixxxix. 13 . And from Eph, i. 19, 20. it 
appears that Jehovah the Father exerted the might of his 
power in Chrift when he raifed him up to his throne, as he 
iwore with an oath to David his fervant-y ver. 30. And this 
figurative fentence may alfo allude to the well-known an- 
cient form in fwearing, by a folemn elevation of the right- 
hand to heaven. Thus John faw the angel in a vifion 
*' ftand upon the fea and upon the earth, lifting up his 
*' hand to heaven, and fwearing by him that iiveth for 
*' ever and ever," Rev. x. 5, 6. In like manner it is de- 
clared, " The Lord hath fworn by his right-hand and by 
*' the arm of his ftrength," Ifa. Ixii. 8. I'hus Jefus was 
raifed and placed at the right-hand of God far above qwqtv 
name that is named. It was the Father's own adl, in the 
charadler of Judge, by which the triumphant Redeemer, 
having made reconciliation for iniquity, was exalted, as 
agreed on in the covenant of peace : An article of no 
fmall importance with them who believe. This, allow 
the expreffion, is the glory of the glorified Saviour. He 
aflumed not the throne in the heavens, which he fills, but 
afcended and fat down at the call, and by the power of 
the moft High. It is true, Chrift is thus highly exalted 
as the reward of his obedience to death, Phil. ii. 9. His 
djo^nified (tate hath a meritorious caufe in himfelf, and is 
no more than the (tipulated and juft return fur the labour 
and viaory of his crofs, by whith he Hmihed the work of 



do L E C T U R E S O N 

redemption. Herein our glorious King far exceeds all 
principalities and powers in heaven or on earth : Who^ 
O thou Prince of life and Lord of glory, is like unto thee 1 
Who among the fons of the mighty to be compared with 
thee ! Nor gods on high, nor gods below, whether an- 
gels or men, have any pretence to this claim ; not the 
inoft illuftrious feraphim, whofe exalted dominion in the 
celeftial world is neareft to the Deity, canboaft his defert 
of the crown that he wears; but Jefus hath an equitable 
right in the dignity and power he holds ; and the honors 
of his throne proclaim the merit of his blood I Never- 
thelefs, we fee he exalted not himfelf, but is cloathed 
with majefty by Jehovah the Father, whofe fervant he 
was, and in whom according to the fettlements of infinite 
wifdom, in the ceconomy of man's falvation, the divine 
right of inveftiture remained. Hail, O Chriftian, thv 
King and Saviour is not an ufurper ; he is crowned by au- 
thority ; his throne is eftablilhed in righteoufnefs, and it 
cannot be moved ! This fpreads a joy among his fubjefts, 
under which they are ready to triumph, in the language 
of the prophet, and fay, " The Lord is our Judge, the 
••' Lord is our Law-Giver, the Lord is our King, he will 
*' fave us r' Ifa. xxxiii. 22. 

From the authority by which our Saviour is exalted we 
are led to another inftance of grace. On his appearance 
in the heavens, a moft grand and interefling tranfa6lion 
immediately takes place between him and the Father. 
This deferves our particular notice. When we conlider 
the mutual com.placency of thefe divine perfons each in 
the other, the infinite delight of the Father in his Son as 
his eled fervant, with the l'atisfa6lion he had in his finiflied 
work on the crofs, and efpecially if we add, how greatly 
the Redeemer longed after his glory which he had with 
his Father, as Mediator, before the foundation of the 
world, we lliall have reafon to apprehend, that the honor 
and joy of their meeting in the throne, is not to be fully 
conceived. No doubt, as hinted before, when the King 
of glory entered, and was faluted by the Father, the hea- 
vens rtfoimded with the acclamations of their bleii inhabit-- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 8r 

ants, IKouting the honors of God and of %ne Lamb. But 
we are here called to obferve a frefti occafion of triumph 
and praife. No fooner is the great Interceflbr and Head 
of the church placed at the right hand of God, but be- 
hold the Father delivers the Spirit int6 his hands, by 
whom he is poured forth onthedifciples, according to the 
promife of the covenant, long fince revealed, and engaged 
for by Jefus himfelf before he afcended. " Having receiv- 
*' ed of the Father the promife of the Holy Ghoft, he hath 
" fhed forth this which ye now fee and hear." Adorable 
fcene I See how the facred Three are united in fulfilling 
their covenant-engagements for the falvation of the churchi- 
Here, in a meafure, is unfolded the methods of infinite 
wifdom : the Father is firft in order and operation in this 
rhyftery of grace ; from hence, as from the fountain and 
head, the Son is fupplied with the Holy Ghoft for the pro- 
pagation of the gofpel and the gathering in his ele6l. Paufe, 
my dear Reader, and admire. O this wonderful conde- 
fcention and love I How unfearchable are the judgments of 
God and his ways of tnercy with fmners I " Lord, what 
*' is mafl that thou ftiouldft be mindful of him, or any of the 
" fons of men that thou fliouldft thus vifit them I" This is 
no other than the good pleafure of him who worketh all 
things according to the counfel of his own will. Adore 
then his fovereign grace ! One branch of Chrift's glory is 
his mediatorial fulnefs ; this includes a difpenfa'tion of the 
Spirit, as a Spirit of grace, for the quickening thofe who are 
redeemed with his blood. Hence the chofen have been 
called and fan£lified fince the world began, yea and the 
Holy Ghoft, who moved andinfpired the prophets of old, 
was the Spirit of Chrift, i Pet, i. ii. But that which is 
exhibited in the paffage before us is, the fending forth the 
Spirit from on high, by whofe operations and miraculous 
gifts, the laft feal was fet to the authority of Jefus, for the 
convidion of the world and the fpread of his kingdom. 
Glorious fight 1 Lo the Captain of falvation, of whom it 
was written in the volume of the book,"-* I delight to do 
*' thy will, O God,'' being made perfe£l through fuffer* 
ings, appears in heaven the advocate of his people I See 



8a lectureson 

him advance in robes of righteoufnefs, to the Father, ias 
it were with the roll of the covenant in his hand, ratified 
in his blood 1 Behold how he pleads at the throne, and 
with authority demands the promife of the Holy Ghoft, 
who immediately proceeds from the liands of the Father 
into thofe of the Son, and from, him to the waiting difci- 
ples at Jerufalem \ The effufion of the Spirit was the won- 
der of thoie who beheld it on earth : But with what afto- 
nifhmentandjoy mufl: the heavenly hoft view the ground 
and amazing proceflion 1 On this bleffed oceafion we may 
reafonably iuppofe, that the innumerable company of an- 
gels, who pry into the myftery of redemption, and rejoice 
in the convcrfion of a finner, with the thpufandsof faint? 
who compaffed the throne, were filled with admiration, and 
ready to unite in that new fong, faying with a loud voice, 
\^ Worthy is the Lamb that was flain to receive power, 
*' and riches, and wifdomjarid ftrength, and honor^ and glo'*- 
" ry, and bleliing ! 

Thus Jefus fits enthroned in the heavens, having fetji 
forth the holy Spirit of promife. But, how long (hall he 
continue in this glorious fituation ? Now this is declared 
in ven 35. " Until I make thy foes thy footftool :" which 
opens to our view the defign and period of that dignity 
and power with which the Father hath invefted his 
Son, our ^)lefrcd redeemer. It may be proper here to re- 
mark that the glory of Chrift, as head and lord of the ele<^ 
is eternal ; nor will the Man Chrift Jefus eVer again be 
humbled or degraded; the Mediator fliall reign on his 
throne in the ultimate ftate of happinefs : And indeed 
whatever difficulties may attend a pafiage or two, relating 
to this divine myftei;y, tor inftance his ''^ delivering up the 
'^ kingdom to the Father," i Cor. xv. as one jufdy ob- 
fer ves, it is ftrange to think that Chrift fliould lay afide his 
rule s as fooh as he has fubdued all his foes : befides his 
peop le are aCfured of reigning with him for ever in glory, 
ilom. V. 17. compared with Rev. xxii. 5. Agreeable to this 
is his prayer to his Father, John xvii. 34. " I will alfo 
" tJiat thofe whom thou haft given me he with me where I 
" aiDj that they may behold my glory." Neverthclefs the 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 83 

prefent form of his government and kingdom will be al- 
tered ; the manner of which is not particularly revealed 
but from this and other fcriptures, it appears that he will 
not ever continue in the fame circumllances in which he 
now fits at the right hand of God ; but that when the end 
fpecified in the text is anfwered, he will rife from his 
throne and come forth to judgment, with unfpeakable pow- 
er and glory. The exaltation of Jefus is not alone for 
himfelf, or merely as %hQ reward oF his fufFerings, but alfo 
to apply the viftory of his crofs, to accomplifh the num- 
ber of his ele£l, and to bring down his enemies under his 
feet, that he may finifti the myftery of God in the falvati- 
on and happinefs of them that obey him. In the phrafe, 
♦« Until I make thy foes tlly footllool," there is a mani- 
feft reference to a Well-known cuftom of conquerors ; an 
example of which we have in the captains of Ifrael, who, 
at the direction of Jolhua their commander, put their feet 
* on the necks of the five kings they had fubdued at Gibeon. 
Thus (liall the Captain of falvation tread down all his ene- 
mies, and trample them under his feet, as the mire of thas 
{treet, into iliame and ^verlafting contempt. 

But it may be ufeful to enquire, who are the foes of our 
blefled Redeemer ? Can any one be fo flupid and bafe as 
to oppofe' his glorious perfon, the grace of whofe ofEce, 
and whofe condeicenfion and love in undertaking for 
fmners, with the triumphs of his crofs, challenge our high- 
eft regard? Sure it muft argue a vile difpofition, to hate 
and oppofe the Son of Cod, '^ who is the brightnefs of his 
" Father's glory and the exprefs image of his perfoft;"dr 
to reje6l that Almighty Saviour, who is poffefTed of every 
perfection as God and Mediator, and whofe nature and 
power demand the obedience and love of every creature 
in heaven or in earth ? An oppofition to one lo divinely 
great, and fo immenfely good, is the height of folly and 
itiadnefs, and muft proceed from a mind moft wretchedly 
depraved ; yet, alas, the enemies of Jefus abound both oa 
earth and in hell. The fpiritual enemies ofChrift, as the 
fubftitute of his people, were fm, the curie of the law, the 
malice and power of Satan, this evil world, and death and 



84 LECTURES ON 

the grave ; tbefe arrayed themfelves againft him, when 
through death, he deftroyed the devil that had the pow- 
er of death, haying put away fm by the iacrifice of himfelf ;; 
lie overcame them all in the blood of his crofs, and virtu- 
ally put them under his feet ; and accordingly the prophet 
Ifaiah, chap. xiii. reprefents the Meffiah coming from 
Edom, in dyed garments from Bozrah in apparel, fplendid 
and red, as a mighty conqueror from the field of battle 
after a glorious viftory, ftained with the blood of his ene- 
niies. Thus a fure foundation is laid for what follows ; 
"when the day of his redeemed is come, then will he tread 
down the people in his anger, and make them drunk in his; 
fury, and bring down their ftrength to the earth ; then 
the laft enemy fliall be utterJ^ deftroyed, never to wound 
or hurt any more, but death and hell fhall be caft into the 
lake of fire. 

But the foes more immediately intended, feem the wick- 
ed, who finally oppofe the authority and grace of the Re- 
deemer, whether men or devils. It is a humbling truth, 
but all mankind are enemies to Chrift, the cle£i not ex- 
cepted, though they are chofen by the Father, and the 
ranfomed of his Son, yet while in an unregenerate ftate, 
they are enemies ^n their minds to the way of God's grace 
in Chrift Jefus to finncrs ; of which Saul is a remarkable 
inftance, who, though a chofen veffel of mercy, was before 
his converfion a deftroyer of the faith he afterwards preach- 
ed. And truly the oppofition of a vain world to the pure 
gofpel, is more owing to the natural averfion of the carnal 
mind than feems generally apprehended ; and fome Who 
are called, bewail the pride and obftinacy with which in 
the time of their ignorance, they oppofed it ; but, being 
enlightened, and made willing by the power of God, they 
freely fubmitted themfelves to Jefus as their Lord, and 
obtained mercy and life at his hands. In like manner all 
real penitents, even though they have formerly blafphemed 
the Son of man, fhall be fpared and received, when they 
who perfift in eppofing him fhall not efcape his juft indig- 
nation, but be miferably abafed under his feet ; but the 
righteous fhall be exalted in his favor. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, 8^ 

And if on earth, much more in hell, are to be found 
inveterate, though impotent foes of the glorious and omni- 
potent Saviour. It has been fuggefted, tliat the fall of 
angels was owing to the envy of Satan againft the throne 
pf God's Son, to which he impiouily afpired. Hence that 
apoftate fiend, with all the principalities who joined under 
him in the fatal rebellion, were hurled down to hell by 
that divine Prinpe, at whofe glory they prefumed to 

. ftrike. This may be thought a bold conjecture, beyond 

. the line of revelation, and not to be indulged: But we 
may foberly conclude, that nothing fliort of an infolent 

, tranfgreffion againft the Majefty of heaven could be an oc- 
caiion of fo fearful a doom : And we are certain that 
pride was the condemnation of the devil and his angels ; 
but how this curfqd root of moral evil took place in the 

. celeilial angels, fo highly exalted in the creation, is a myf- 
tery : we know they wxre originally glorious and blelTed, 
but that now thefe once illuftrious and happy fpirits are 

, moft vile and miferable, infomuch that they are held under 
phains of darknefs unto a future judgment, by which they 
fhall be configned to the torments of everlafting fire. But 
it is vain to imagine the way in which thefe apoftate 
angels were defeated ; be that as it may, we learn frora 
the tremendous fa6l, that no creature is or can be impec- 
cable, and alfo that fin ihall not go unpuniflied. But what 
is intimated is, an oppofition to the Son of God, in the 
character and work of Mediator: Under which confide- 
ration hell is full of his foes. The malice and oppofition 
of Satan, and the infernal hoft that are with him, are obvi- 
ous ; nor is it ftrange, fince the Son of God, was mani- 
fefted to deftroy the works of the devil, and the whole 
bufinefs of Chrift is to overthrdw his kingdom of darknefs ; 
this feed of the woman is to break the ferpent's head, in 
bringing many fons to glory, whofe deftruClion he hod 
conceived. Thus faith the fcripturcs, " I will put enmity 
*' between thee and the woman, and between thy feed and 
*' her feed ; it ftiall bruife thy head, and thou ftialt bruife 
*' his heel," Gen. iii. 15. There is therefore an eternal 
enmity between Chrift and the devil, an irreconcileable 
hatred j and whence arifeth prepetual unw^saried and vie- 



£6 LECTURES O n 

lent attempts, agarnfl the authority and kingdom of JefL\&i 
and no doubt thele are Chrift's foes, whom the Father, 
will fubdue and bring under him ; but the prophet feems 
to have more immediately in ylew, thofe his enemies, the 
children of men, whether of high or low degree, who ob- 
ftrnately perfift unto a final reje^lion of his authority and 
grace. However all the powers in earth or hell, that fet 
themfelves againft the Redeerher, fhall be brought down 
under his feet. This indeed is gradually performed, for 
judgment will not be finiflied till his people are gathered : 
Z Pet. iii. 7. *'' The Lord is not flack concermng his pro-' 
^^ mife,as fome men count flacknefs,but is long-fi^fFering to 
*^ Tis-ward; not willing that any fhould perifti,'"but that. 
*■'■ all n>ould come to repentance. '^ But ho fooner are the 
purpofes of grace anfwered by this divine patience, but all 
things (liall be put under Jefus ; including the pofl: haugh- 
ty and powerful who now exalt themfelves againft' himj 
then fhall come to pafs that faying, '" Afk ofme^ and! 
*'•' will give thee the heathen for thy inher-itance, and the 
"■ iTttermoil parts of the earth for thy pofTellion." "Not to 
fay by the efficacy of his gofpel, to- which the paflage is 
often applied, but to deftroy, by the arm of his vengeance, 
all the difobedient who oppofe him ; as appears from the 
terms of the prophecy itfelf, Pfalm ii. 9. " Thou fhalt 
**■ break them with a rod of iron, thou (halt dafh them in 
pieces like a porter's veffel I" See alfo Rev. ii. 27. '' 

Review the profpe^l, dear Reader ; lo, an afcended. 
Jefus fitting at the right hand of God, crowned with glory 
and power by Jehovah the Father himfelf, from whom 
we behold him receive the Holy Ghoft;, and pour him forth ' 
Bpon his difciples, whofe miraculous gifts were feen at 
Jerufalem, in teilimony of his exalted ftate, in which he 
will abide until all who oppofe him are under his feet ; 
then (hail the Son deliver up the kingdom to the Father, 
having put down all rule and authority, and prefent his 
church faultlefs before the prefence of his glory with joy. 
Thus (hall ifiue the prefent adminiftraticn of his mediato- 
rial work on earth, and he fliall commence the vifible head 
of the glorified creation in the heavenly world, and con> 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. g; 

tinue the medium of communication between God and his 
people, who will be happy in their union and fellowthip 
with him for ever ! 

. And is Chrift thus exalted ? What then will become 
df thofe who reje<^ him ! It is impoflible to conceive the 
diftrefs and confufion that muft attend them who are made 
his footftool, when he takes vengeance. O the contempt, 
and anguifh of infidels, who finally reje^l or obftinately 
refufe the Redeemer and h'u; gofpel. Their fliame and mi- 
fery will certainly be in proportion to his glory and power 
as a Saviour and Judge. It is the wrath of the Lamb; 
wrath infinite as his love, his fufferlngs and his merit! 
flrange and intolerable ! who can deicribe or endure 
it ; when the Lord fhall defcend from heaven, and the 
trumpet fhall found, " Our God fliall come, faith the pro- 
'' phet, a fire (liall devour before him, and it fliall be very 
*•? tempeftucus round about him j he fliall call to the hea- 
*' ven above, and to the earth, that he may judge his 
" people ; and the heavens fliall declare his righteoufnefs, 
" for God is judge himfelf." Hear then, O unbeliever, 
canfl thou Rand before his indignation? canfl: thou abide 
the fiercenefs of his anger ; when his fury is poured out 
like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him? art thou 
"trampling under foot the blood of the Son of God, or afraid 

or afliamed to truft and confefs him now before men ? How 
>vilt thou endure to be dragged forth in the prefence of 
God and his angels, and trodden down among the wicked 
in the day of his wrath ? No rocks or mountains fliall be 
able to cover thee. O it is a fearful thing to fall into the 
hands of the living God for defpite of his grace 1 

But i (peak to him that believes, and unto whom Jefus 
is precious. And is it not matter of unfpeakable joy, as 
an excellent writer remarks, to one that loves Chrift 
*' that he is now exalted, glorified, and enthroned in an 
'*- everlafling and immoveable kingdom?" View, O Ghrift- 
ian, thy afcended and glorified Saviour ! The fcene is 
opened in fcripture for thine eyes to behold. Contemplate 
the dignity and power of him that endured the crofs and. 



88 Leg t u r e s o n 

defpifed the fliame for thy fins. In vain the difciples coii- 
tinned on Mount Olivet, gaizing with their natural eyes 
up to the vifible heavens, through which their Lord was 
taken out of their fight^ and placed on the right-hand of 
God ; and for this they were juftly reproved : But it is 
the wifdom, duty and privilege of the chriftian, to ufe the 
eyes of his fpiritual underftanding, and through faith be- 
hold him that is invifible, crowned with glory and honor, 
the Forerunner, Advocate, Prieil and King of his people* 

The advantages that arife from a becoming attention 
to thefe things are many and great. The exaltation of 
Chrift is to the glory of the Father. If we are duly af- 
fected with this divine profpe£l, it will excite our praifes 
to him, whofe infinite power, faithfulnefs and love, are 
illuftrioully difplayed in raifing up his Son Jefus Chrift. It 
will likewifig poflefs us with reverence and efteem for the 
Saviour himfelf, and make us bow with adoration, as in 
heaven they caft down their crowns before his prefence. 
This alfo refle£ls a glory on the Chriftian profeflion. What 
an honour to be a difciple of Jefus I Shall any refufe to 
own him before men, who is thus highly exalted with 
God I Muft not the man who claims a relation to fo dig- 
nified an head, have reafon to glory in his crofs, and with 
Mofes efteem even the reproaches of Chrift, yea and re- 
joice if he is counted worthy to fufFer for his fake ? Blufll 
then, O Reader, if confcious that through fear of the 
fcornful, or of any other trial, thou art neglecting his or- 
ders, and avoiding the open confeflion to his name re- 
quired in the gofpel I See Jefus crowned on the throne 
in his heavenly kingdom 1 Behold the thoufands of thou- 
fands that minifter unto him, and the ten thoufand thou- 
fands that ftand before him. And canftthou be aftiamed 
of him and his words in the face of his enemies, who are 
foon to be trodden under his feet I 

Again, fliould not this confirm and enliven our hope iri 
a dark and threatening feafon ? God raifed up and glori- 
fied his Son, that our faith and hope might be in himfelf, 
I Pet. i. 21. Since Jefus fits at the right hand of the 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 89 

Mther, until his foes ar'e his footftool, fear not, O Be- 
liever, he is able to fave thee I And however the ene- 
mies of Chrift and his gofpel may feem to prevail, and be 
ready to infult, their triumph is fhort, thy exalted Redeem- 
er is daily advancing agairift tHem/ It is indeed a cloudy 
day when the delufions of Mahomet, or heathen idolatry, 
and grofs fuperftition, fpread over fo confiderable a part 
of the earth ; and efpecially if we add the abominations of 
Popery, the infolence of Deifts, and the abounding dif- 
orders, and many unhappy divifions where the name of 
chriftianity is known : but in thefe fad circdrtiftances we 
have this to comfort us, that the adverfaries of Zion are 
doomed to deftru^tion. The Lofd reigns, and they who 
oppofe him muft repent or be ruined^ Thefe veffels of 
wrath are permitted a while, but the day of vengeance is 
at hand, when all the enemies of Jefus (hall be covered 
with Ibame, and perifli for ever* 

Finally, Beloved, is the Saviour raifed to this dignity 
in the heavens ? With what freedom fliould his people 
come to the throne of grace for every blcffing, and parti- 
cularly for the Holy Spirit of promife he hath received of 
the Father ! ' Remember that he is thus exalted in pub- 
lic chara<Eler, and in the name of his faints, and that his 
bleffed ftate, is the earned and example of thine, who art 
virtually raifed and fet together with thy glorified Head : 
Therefore be of good courage inpurfuirig the victory giv- 
en thee* "He is faithful that has prom ifed,'' faying, 
" To him that overcometh will I grant to fit with me m 
" my throne, even as I alfo overcame, and am fet dowrt 
** with my Father in his throne," Rev, iii. 21. 



THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK* 



n 



Primitive Chriftianity. 



4; :.lu.v ■/ '.1 i J, . ' t 4. . ■.-» ■■ \< 



BOOK II. 



BEING 



Sbme tteiights oil the Apoftle's improvement 
and application of his difcourfe to the Jewi 
on tl^ day of Pentecoft. 



Lecture Viil 

Containing the Jpostle's address to bis audience in gene- 
ral. His punSiual description of the SdvidUr. The 
charge of his murder on the Jews repeated. An earn' 
est exhortation to consider hiih its the Lord's Cbrift s 
and the conmBions which naturally result from such a 
persuasion, 

"jj E T E R havmg largely proved, by undeniable telli- 
1 m-ony and realbning out of the feriptures, the afcen- 
lion and glory of Jefus, clofes his excellent fermon with 
a lively application which (lands on record, and runs in 
thefe terms, " Therefore let all the houfe of Ifrael know 
'* afluredly, that God hath made that fame Jefus whom 
** ye have crucified^ both Lord and ChriiV' Ads ii. 36^ 



j^RIMiTIVE CHRISTIANITY. 91 

Th^ words &re plainly an inference by way of refle£li- 
iOji, in which this great preacher manifeftly calls upon his 
fiudience, without exception, to confider what he had 
been iaylng, and to apply the fame for their conviction, 
that they might no longer reje6l the counfel of God againft 
themfelves, but believe and be faved. Thus the apoXUe 
winds up his difcourfe. And this is the end and method 
of preaching, owned of God, for the converiion of fin- 
ners. A glorious inftance of which is hefore us. It ap- 
pears from ver. 14, that the apoftle flood up and deliver* 
cd himfelf in an .earneft and audible manner becoming the 
jDCcafion ; and there is reafon to fuppofe that his fervency 
rather increafed than declined. No doubt, in proclaiming 
thefe words, he lift up his voice like a trumpet, and withi 
^reat boldnefe and ^eal itretched forth his hands and preff* 
ed home the confideration of the things he had fpoken, on 
the hearts and confciences of his hearers. The particu- 
lars to be noted in this facred paragraph are, the obje6ls 
..^ddreffed, the truth which the apoille advances, and his 
earneft exhortation to lay it to heart I Ihall confidei* 
each in its order ; point out the convi£lions that muft 
^rife from a cordial perfuafion of what is aiferted, and 
xhen cloiV with a word or two by way of improvement. 
And, 

Firsts The proclamation is to the houfe of Ifrael, i. e. 
the people of the Jews, lb denominated from their an- 
ceftor Jacob, fir-named Ifrael ; the Lord's people, whom 
he brought out of Egypt, a chofen feed from the loins of 
Abraham, by Ifaac and Jacob, with whom God eftablifh- 
ed his covenant. This people, whcfe number was great, 
are IHled the houfe of Ifrael, Jacob or Ifrael being the im- 
mediate parent of the twelve patriarchs from whom the 
multitude fprang ; who at length profpered into a king- 
dom, a peculiar treafure unto the Lord, Many and great 
were their privileges ; and for afeafon their renown went 
forth among the heathen for beauty. Unto them belonged 
the oracles of God ; and with them were the ordinances 
of the fanduary, in the midft of whom Jehovah dvvelt^ 
while they obeyed his voice and kept his covenant. Uut^ 



9« LECTURES ON 

alas, being a ftiflf-necked and perverfe generation, they 
foon and frequently corrupted themfelves to their ruin. 
And at this time they were in a mofi: deplorable condition, 
for being left of God, whofe wrath was impending, they 
became vain in their imagination, and were in a mannet* 
univerfally blinded; but dill there was among them a rem- 
nant, . according to the election of grace, Rom. xi. 5. And 
God had not call away his people whom he foreknew: Ne- 
verthelefs we find that Peter's addrefs is to all this houfe 
of Ifrael. This affords an example of preaching to the 
end of the world. If a rainifter's idea of the Father's 
eledlion ftraitens him in his report of the gofpel, fo that 
jbe cannot moft earneftly befeech every hearer of the 
Xvord, with an ardent defire after his faving acquaintance 
with Chrift, he feems under fome unhappy miftake shou\, 
this glorious do£lrine of grace. 

Secret things belong unto God; and there is nothing re- 
vealed concerning his counfel, which is a juft exception to 
our addrefles and prayers, yea and our warmeft pleadings 
ivith each individual, that he receive not the grace of God 
in vain. Not the unkfiown elecl^ but knoiunjinners^ are 
the immediate objects of a gofpel-miniftry, in refpe£l of its 
general report. It is true, the great end of this commiff- 
ion from heaven is the gathering the chofen and redeemed 
of the Lord : And this will be the view of him that is cm- 
ployed. Conftrained by the love of Chrift, his minifters 
are animated to patience and diligence, and, with the 
iapoftle, " can endure all things for the eleft's fake, that they 
** may obtain the falvation which is in him, with eternal 
*' glory," 3 Tim. ii. 10. Neverthelefs, the Lordknoweth 
them that are his. And a fervant of Jefus hath not, nor 
can he have any rational or warrantable ground for refpe<Et 
of perfons in his miniftry, but is to preach the word inde- 
finitely ; and labour, if by any means, every one may re- 
pent and receive remiflion of fins, and by fubmitting himf elf 
to the Lord, obtain life eternal. This is the example of Pe- 
ter. Indeed he was the apoftle of the circumcifion, and fent 
to the loft flieep of the houfe of Ifrael, and therefore applies 
j^imfelf diredly to the Jews, among whom he knew thei*iq 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 93 

was a chofen feed ; yet his exhortation is univerfally ex- 
tended : '^ Let all the houfe of Krael know." Nor have we 
any reafon to doubt but that his heart's defire, like that of 
Paul for Ifrael was, (without exception) that they might be 
fav^ed. That man who doth not fincerely defire, and ear* 
neftly endeavour after the final happinefs of all who attend 
him, and accordingly dired his difcourfe to the heart and 
confcience of every hearer, feems under a prejudice, and 
Gomes fliort oF the fample given of thofe who preached the 
word from the beginning. 

Secondly^ The truth the apoftle remonftrates to thefe 
unbelievers for fubllance is this, namely, that Jefus was 
the Chrift, the Son of God, and the King of Ifrael ; or, as 
he himfelf on a certain occafionconfeffed, faying, ^'- Thou. 
*' art Chrift the Son of the living God," John vi. 69. He 
declares and urgeth it upon theni, that '■'• God hath made 
*' that fame Jefus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and 
** Chrift." Note, 

I. His pun<Rualdefcription of the Meffiah, " That f^ime 
^' Jefus." It is of great importance to know the perfon of 
the Saviour, not indeed in a natural way or after the flefli, 
as the Jews knew him when they crucified and flew him, 
or as the apoftles difcerned him alive from the dead, and 
thereby became qualified, as we have feen, to witnefs his 
refurre6lion. Henceforth Chrift is no more known after 
this manner ; but a fpiritual knov/ledge of his perfon is 
needful to a cordial dependence upon him. A man may 
truft him that is unfeen^ but no man can depend on an ob- 
je£l unknoivn ; And accordingly we find that an under- 
ftanding in the perfon of Clirift is given to them that be- 
lieve : " He hath given us anunderftanding in him that is 
" true," John v. 20. The apoftle's defign is not only to 
convince the Jews of their guilt, but likewife, to lliew 
them, that in this fame Jefus, and in no other falvation is 
found, and this with a view to their converfion. In like 
manner every true believer knows who the Lord's Chriit 
is ; he hath a true underftanding in the perfon of his Re- 
deemer j nor will any faith fupport its fubje£l in an hour of 



94 L E C T U R E S O N 

temptation, and efpecially in the views of eternity, but 
jhat which is accompanied with a certain knowledge of 
liim in whom his confidence is placed : But the chriftian is 
jibundantly fiuisfied in this, and therefore can rejoice, a§ 
thfi apoftle, when his departure is at band, and fay, '' 1 
y' know whom I have believed, and I am perfuaded that he 
*' is able to keep that which I have committed unto him 
f againft that day," a Tim. i. 12. The faithful are no^ 
ialike in the degrees of their l^nowledge, but each believer 
hatha true acquaintance with him whom^he trufts ; he is 
fo far enlightened as tu know and be perfuaded thatbis Sa- 
viour is the Son (^f the living Gk)d. If the experience of 
the faints in this point ofk^wledge is fubftantially the 
fame, which cannot with^eafon be doubted, then accord- 
ing to the pafiage in John l!^fore mentioned, they all know 
that the Son of God is copie, i. e. was manifefted in the 
fleO), and that this his Son Jefus Chrift is the true God 
and eternal life. This knowledge includes a true idea of 
the conftitution of his wonderful perfon, as God-man ; for 
tliough an ordinary chriftian, at leaft fome fuch, may not 
be clearly led into every circumftance relating to the in- 
effable union of thefe infinitely diftant natures ;n the pen- 
fon of the MeiTiah, or be capable of difco'urfing with judg- 
ment pti this fublime fubjeft, yet the faith of God's people 
is jfo grounded in the perfon of their Redeemer, that it 
can^not exift without a true acquaintance therewith. His 
deity and humanity are therefore known to believers, th^ 
leaft of whom is perfuaded that Jefus is Immanuel, " God 
with us :'^ and he is likewife confident of this, that his Sar 
viour is that fame Jefus who fuffered without the gate^ 
of Jerufalem,even the felf-fame perfon who was crucified 
Sit Mount Calvary. This is what Peter points out in the 
ihcngtft manner to his hearers, that he, whom God hath 
made both Lord and Chrift, is that fame Jefus, even that 
ielf-fame individual perfon whom they had llain on the 
crofs, andno ether. And this knowledge is contained in 
the faith of the chofen. But, 

2, Obferve with what freedom he repeats his charge on 
tlieie-Jerufalem fmnerf : '* Whom yt- have crycii^ed." This 



tflfMITIVE CHRIStlANlTY. 95 

iriHeed may, be confidered as a part of the defcription 
given of the Lord's Chrift ; but I apprehend that the apof- 
tle had a further view. He feems to be exceedingly earned 
after their repentance ; and therefore to awaken them, 
takes the opportunity of rehearfmg their crime, that be- 
ing deeply convinced of their horrid and inexpreffibl'e guilty 
they Height on due encouragement be prepared to look ort 
him whom they had pierced, and mourn. This gofpel-mi - 
nifter longed after the converfion of his hearers, and would 
fain have them fee their wretched condition, and the eter- 
nal mifery before them, that they might flee to Jefus, and 
efcape wrath to come. And in this he purfued the couii- 
fel of God with refpe£l to many that Iieard him, as ap- 
jiears by the fequel, to the joy and furprize of this faith- 
ful fervant of the Lord, who, it is highly probable, little 
expelled the glorious harveft he reaped in the end ; but 
of that in its place. Sinners are for the moft part hard- 
ened in unbelief, and have need to be told again and again 
of their evil ; and affedlionate minifters, who watch far 
their fouls, will repeat their remonltrances with a view 
to convince them ; they will cry aloud, and fpare not to 
fliewunto them their tranfgreffions and their fms, that if 
Godperadventure ftiould awaken them to a fenfe of their 
folly and danger, and give them repentance unto the ac- 
knowledgement of the truth, they may recover themfelves 
and be plucked as brands from the fire. Thus Peter hav- 
ing fet forth the glory and power of the exalted Saviour, 
fixes the attention of the Jews on him, whom they had cru- 
cified, as the Lord's Chrift, ll^ewing that he was no other 
than that felf-fame perfon whom they had defpifed and 
wickedly murdered. This their blood-guiltinefs he repeats, 
and as it were rings in their ears, that being duly and 
deeply affeded with their ruined ftate, they might repent 
and be faved. We may juftly admire the wifdom, faiih- 
fulnefs and compafiion of this great man of God. How 
worthy the imitation of all unto whom is committed the 
gofpel of peace, and the care of immortel iouls I O that 
iuch preachers abounded I Once more,. 



5(5 LECTURES ON 

3. We are to note the pofitlve manner in which the 
Jipoftle declares the authority of Jefus. He afferts it witti 
the utmoft boldnefs and confidence. This is no conjec- 
ture, however probable, but a certain undeniable fa6l. 
He, that fame Jcfus whom ye have crucified, is made, and 
made, by God, both Lord and Chrift. To be made is to 
be created or conftituted by authority. So was Jefus to" 
the office of Mediator, to which thefe chara6lers belong. 
He was made by the Father from whom he received his 
authority ; it was he called and created him in the eter- 
nal counfel of peace. Hence Ifa, xlii. i. "Behold my 
" fervantwhom I uphold, mine ele<5lin whom my foul de- 
•' lighteth." An(,l again, " I was fet up from everlafting, 
*' from the beginning, or ever the earth was." Prov. viii. 
123. And accordingly our Lord, John xvii. 5, fpeaks of a 
glory which he had with the Father before the world was. 
So then Jefus was ordained and fet up in the high office 
of mediator, not upon his incarnation, but from the be- 
ginning, even from everlafting was he made, by a fpecial 
conftitution according to the infinite wifdom of Goa, that 
he might accomplifh the purpofe of his grace in bringing 
many fons to glory ; and with this (lands connefted his 
appointment to a kingdom, unto which the Father flood 
engaged to exalt him when he had finiftiedhis work upon 
earth. Thus was he created to this dignity and power 
in the covenant of redemption before the foundation of 
the world. But to be made fignifieth more than to be 
appointed, ordained or conftituted : it may intend alfo his 
being manifeft or openly inverted with authority ; and 
from the fcope of the place, we are led to confider it here 
in this fenfe. The apoftle plainly defigns that God had 
actually and evidently inverted Jefus with the majefty and 
power which belonged to the Meifiah, as prophefied of 
old, and that now he was undoubtedly and viiibly both • 
Lord and Chrift. It remains to confider, 

nirdly^ The apoftles folemn and earneft exhortation 
to receive the truth in their heart. " Lot all the houfe 
" of Ifrael know afiuredly." To know afiuredly is to be 
perfuaded without hefitat'ion : And by this phrafe, Peter 



tRIMrTIVE CHRISTIANITY. 

^oth not fd much report the truth as ftir up the Jews to 
embrace it. When the princes of the earth fend forth 
their heralds with a " be it known unto all men/' every 
man is called upon, not barely to hear or credit the report, 
but alfo and chiefly to conlider and obey it ; it is an autho* 
ritative fentence demanding the aflent, perfuafion and con- 
formity of their fubje(!ls : In like manner, this gofpel- 
minifter, having proved that Jefus was the Ghritl and 
Lord ofpraji, in his name calls with authority on thefe men 
of Ifrael to a fure belief and full perfuafion of what he had 
declared him to be, and a fubmiflion to him as fuch. q, d. 
*' O ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerufalem, 
*' harden not your hearts, do not perverfely rejed this 
*' word of falvation. Lo, that fame Jefus whom ye cru- 
*' cified, God hath raifed up, whereof we are all witneffes, 
** and fo is the Holy Ghoft, in this which ye now fee and 
^' hear. He is therefore doubtlefs exalted. No longer 
*' queltion his power in heaven and earth, but aflure. your- 
*' felves that this fame Jefus is indeed both Lord andl 
>* Chria." 

This pra£lical knowledge and credit, demanded by the 
apoflle on the evidence given, is of the operation of God* 
It is not indeed truly and properly or at leaft not the whole 
of faving faith, by which the fubje£l as a loft finner, en- 
couraged by the promife of free and rich grace, being 
aflifted by the Spirit, trufts his foul in the hands of the 
almighty Redeemer, and relieth upon him for life ; yet 
furely this perfuafion cometh of him that calleth the faints, 
and is owing to a divine agency. When the gofpel comes 
not in word only but in power, and in the Holy Ghoft^ 
then it comes, faith the apoftle, in much affurance, and 
iflues in converfion, i Theff. i. 5. The native blind- 
nefs and perverfe unbelief, under which the natural man 
is held, will not permit him to entertain this full perfua- 
fion of the authority of the glorified Jefus : and with ref- 
ped to the Jews, who had been guilty of his blood, they 
were highly prejudiced, and under the ftrongeft tempta- 
tions , to difown him whofe vengeance they had reafon t« 

N 



98 L E GVT tf R £ S ON 

dread, itinvelled with power ; fo that all the force of tll^ 
apoftle's reafoning mult have been infufficient without the 
intervention of his divine arm, who can open the heart at 
his pleafure ; and accordingly we find that, though many 
believed through grace, yet it feems the far greater part 
of his numerous audience remained unperfuadable and 
obeyed not the truth. Many are convinced from exter- 
nal evidence, that the fcriptures are true ; they.are mo^ 
rally perfuaded of their veracity, and credit what they 
relate, and confequently believe in this fenfe, that Jelusof 
Nazareth who was crucified, revived, afcended to glory, 
and fits at the right hand of God : but, alas, what is theif 
knowledge I It is all fuperficial andheartlefs ; they dread 
not his wrath, nor defire his falvation ; they are not af- 
fe£led with the gofpel-report, " He that believeth fliall be 
^^ faved, and he that believeth not (liall be damned." A 
geiieral notion of being faved by Ghrift, without any re- 
gard to an experience of fincere repentanceand faith, tends 
only to prove the fubjed under a fmgular and dangerous 
hardnefs; but where a full and cordial perfuafion of thd 
power of Jefus, as the Lord's Chrift, to fave his people 
and to deftroy his erterrlies takes place, the fubje<^ will 
feel a painful concern about his own eternal welfare, and 
be ready to cry out, as in the inftance before us. What 
muft I do? or " What lliall I do to be faved ?" And this 
will appear when we confider, as propofed, the convidiona 
that muft arife from fuch a perfuafion* And, 

I. A perfuafion of this will convince the fubje£l that 
Chrift is a Saviour indeed. On the birth of Jefus, you 
know, the angel declared to the fliepherds, faying, '* Unto 
'' you is born in the city of David, this day, a Saviour^ 
" which is Chrift the Lord," Luke ii. ii. To the fame 
purpofe faith Paul, " Of this man's^ i. e. David's feed, 
" hath God, according to his promife, raifed unto Ifrael 
" a Saviour, Jefus/' A6ls xiii. 23. Thus if God hath tru- 
ly made this fame Jefus both Lord and Chrift, he is furely 
a Saviour mighty and great: Hispower, dignity, and all-fuf- 
ficiency are not to be queftioned. It is for want of believ- 
ii g from the heart this divine authority of Jefus, that any 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 



9^ 



diftruft or defpife him. If a man is poffefled of this know- 
ledge of faith, that God hath indeed invefted Jeliis Chrift 
with all power in heaven and earth, he muft be convinced 
^hat he is able to anfwer his charafter. And under this 
convidion, he would certainly either fear his indignatioi^ 
or truft in his name. Whei'e this conviftion takes place, 
there can be no difpute, no, not a moment's hefitatiori, but 
that Jefus is able to fave them that come to God by him, 
and that all others, who obey not the gofpel, ihall be ac- 
counted his enemies and made his footftooi. Again, 

asfTHis perfuafion will alfo convince a man that Jefus 
is the only Saviour. There cannot be two of this fupreme 
dignity. If this fam^ Jefus is Lord and Chrift, there can 
be no other. Some modern Jews, being prefled with the 
evidence of the fufferings and death of Jefus of Nazareth, 
a,s exa£lly and fully anfwering the prophefies concerning 
the Meffiah, in order to uphold their vai-n expectation of 
one yet to come, have invented to themfelves a notion of 
there being two of that character, one to fuflfer, another 
to reign, or to fave and deliver them. This vain conceit, 
as one juftly ftiles it, fhews their perverfe unbelief, and -^ 
how miferably blinded and hardened they are 1 O wherf'^i 
fhall the veil be taken away '. but nothing can be more falfe ' 
and abfurd, being deftitute of reafon and contrary to fcrip. 
ture : ** There is but one Mediator between God and man, 
*' the man Chrill Jefus," i Tim. ii. 5, Andvv^hoever con- 
fiders that office, and the manner in which it is executed, 
will find that there can be only one of this diftinguifliing 
chara£ber. lie only who being m^de perfe<ft through fu£» 
ferings, became the author of eternal falvation, lives at 
the right hand of God, to deliver his people and bring 
them to glory. In the nature of the thing there can be 
but one whom God hath exalted to this dignity : He 
therefore who afiuredly knoweth that Jefus is that perfon 
who fuftains this power by divine authority, muft be con- 
vinced of what Peter declares, A6ls iv. 11. namely, " that 
*' falvation is in no other, neither is there any name un- 
*' der heaven given among men whereby we muft be fav- 
'\ ed.'* It follows, 



loo LECTURES ON 

3. That from this knowledge in the heart, there will 
ariie a convi6lion that every man muft either perilh under 
the adminiftration of Jefus, or be faved by his blood. He 
that is aflured in his mind, that God hath made Jefus 
both Lord and Chrift, and that confequently he is the all- 
fufficient and only Saviour and Judge, being confcious of 
his own guilt, cannot fail of feeing, that without a fub- 
xniffion to and interell in him, he fliall certainly perifti. 
Hence this knowledge will prove efFe6lual to render the 
fubjeft anxious about his eternal ftate, fo as to become an 
earneft enquirer after obtaining this falvation, being fen- 
fible of his danger, and diftrefled in his foul while in a ftate 
of uncertainty. Thus the word coming with power unto 
many of thefe Jerufalem-fmners, they were immediately 
convinced of their mifery and danger ; and being pricked 
in the heart, with the utmoft eagernefs and anguifti of 
fpirit, they fay unto Peter, and to the reft of the apoftles, 
*' Men and brethren, What ftiall we do ?" 



LECTURE IX, 

Being notes and reJleSfions on Peter's proclamation and: 
address in the close of bis sermon to the Jefxs, 



IN the foregoing lefture we conlidered the winding up 
of the apoftle's difcourfe at Jerufalem : It confifts in 
aremonftrance, by way of refle£lion, in which he excites 
his audience, the Jews, to confider the refult of what he 
had provedconcerning Jefus of Nazareth whom they had 
crucified j and calleth upon them, in a moft folemn and 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. lox 

earneft manner, to " know afluredly'* that God had made 
that fame Jefus both Lord and Chrift. A perfuafion of 
this, we have feen, muft needs convince the fubje£l that 
Chriftis a Saviour indeed^ and the only Saviour of finners; 
and confequently that he is undone without an intereft in 
him. Such was the effe£l of Peter's exhortation, by the 
bleffing of God, on many of his hearers. Now this be- 
ing the firft fermon publicly preached in the name of the 
Lord after his afcenfion, it is doubtlefs the moft primitive 
pattern of preaching ; we are therefore naturally led to 
tttrft'our thoughts on thofe points which more immediately 
C;o<ieern that divine inftitution ; in reference to which the 
Ibllowhi^ particulars deferve our attention. 

I* That the conftitution and authority of Jefus, in the 
phara^ler of Mefliah, is a principal fubjed of the gofpel- 
miniftry. The divine authority of Jefus is of the utmoft 
importance ; without a full fatisfadion herein, no man can 
truft him : The leaft hefitation in this point, leaves the 
fubje£l incapable of embracing a crucified Redeemer ; for 
he that is in good earned about his falvation, will never 
confide in one whofe authority is doubtful. Our Saviour 
declares, concerning his difciples, faying to his Father, 
*■'- I have given them the words which thou gaveft me, 
*' and they have received them, and have known furely^ 
*' that I came out from thee, and they have believed 
" that thou didft fend me," John xvii. 8. A full aflfur- 
ance of his divine miflion was the ground of their confi- 
dence in him : In like manner he that receives the word 
of the gofpel into his heart, and comes to Chrift for life, 
comes to him under a full perfuafion that God hath in- 
vefted this fame Jefus, whom he trufts, with the power of 
a Saviour; without this there can be no faith, it being 
needful to awaken in the mind a due concern about an in- 
tereft in Chrift, and to engage a fmner's dependence upon 
him: The apoftle therefore, with great propriety, urges 
this point on the Jews, to convince them of their danger, 
and of the power of Jefus to fave, that they* might not, 
through unbelief, perifli in their fins,. , , >ih}s example 
fliQuld be followed by the minifters of the goipel ,- they 



loz L E C T U R E S O N 

arc to be much employed in opening tbofe fcriptures that 
relate to the Father's appointment of his Son to the ofEce 
he bears, that their hearers, knowing that Jefus is the 
Chrift, and that he is exalted by the right hand of God, 
to fave or to deftroy, may fee the infinite importance of- 
an intereft in him, and be encouraged to truft him. In 
this way faith comes by hearing, through the power of the 
Holy Ghoft, by poflefling the fubjedl, with an evidence 
to his confcience. that Jefus is indeed tlie Lord's Chrift,- 
and able to fave to the uttermoft them who com^Aunto 
God by him: In want of which convidion, fome hearers 
of the word, with their heajds full of orthodox notions, 
feem carelefs, and are little concerned about repentance, 
unto life ; but where this knowledge reacheth the heart, 
a man will not content himfelf (horc of being fafe in this 
otnly and almighty Lord and Saviour of fmners. This, 
being the ftate of the cafe, moft certainly it is a capital 
branch of a preacher's bufmefs, to lay open the counfel 
of God in the conflitution of his Soa. 

Again, we may note, that it becomes the miniflers of. 
Chrift to exhort and excite them that hear, unto a believ* 
ing application of the things that are fpoken. Peter, you 
Ice, having proved from fcripture the dignity and power 
of the afcended Redeemer, clofes his fermon in a warm 
and lively addreis to the Jews ; whereby he labours to con- 
vince them of the glory of Chrift as Lord of all, and as the 
anointed of God, that being duly aflFedbed with his autho- 
rity and grace, they might believe on him unto life ever- 
lalling. If this may be deemed an example, it is not un- 
becoming the miniilers of the word to go farther than a 
ljtWr«iowever judicious report of the things which belong 
to, ine gofpel of Chrift, and proceed to open the counfei 
oi'Mod^ and to excite their audience to confider the reali- 
ty and importance of what they have heard, tliat being ful- 
ly perfuaded, they may .believe and be fave d. The fcrip- 
tures abound with the like famj^ies of preaching ; and in- 
deed, fo dull are mankind, that the warraeft addreffes to 
the heart and confcience are needful as a mean;^ of awaken- 
ing perfons to apply the word t© themfelves i and accords 



PRIMITIVE CHRfS^lliNITY. 103 

.;r.. If . ' 

i?igly we find this account from the great apoftle of the 
Gentiles, " Now then, fays he, we are arabafifadors for 
" Chrift, as though God did befeech you by us ; we pray 
** you in Chrift's ftead, be ye reconciled to God," 2, Cor. 
* ao. Nothing I think can be more evident, than that 
thefe firll and great preachers did not leave the people in a 
cold and lifelefs manner, or without attempting to afFeft 
their-h^rts with what they delivered. 

Tarn fenfible, that while fome have little regard to the 
judgment of their hearers, and make the paflions a firft and 
principal objedl of addrefs, feme others have condemned 
all endeavours to touch the affe£lions, and would confine 
the preacher to a naked expefition, or bare report of the 
truth, with its evidence from fcripture ; apphcations are 
reprefented as favouring of the creatures ability, yea and 
as intruding on the work of the Spirit, whofe office, fay 
they, is to apply his own grace. To obviate this prejudice, 
I fhall endeavour briefly to lliew the propriety of addreff- 
ing theconfciences of men, according to this original pat- 
tern^ and its confidency with the fpiritual impotence of 
fallen man, and confequently with the abfolute need of 
a. divine agency, in order to his faving aidvantage. 

To ftir up the hearers of the word by way of refle£lion^ 
and to ufe every fober means of perfualion, whereby, un- 
der the bleffing of God, their hearts may be affefted with 
the truth, to the profit of their fouls, is not only fuited to 
the nature of man, but alfo exa6lly agrees with the me- 
thod of our Lord and his apoftles ; and if, as hath been 
complained, any are unguarded, andfeemingly inconfiftcnt 
with a juft idea of the truth, in attempting to copy the 
example, can this be a fufficient excufe for laying alide or 
rejedling the natural and ancient means of edification ? 
nor is the agency of thQ,S|)irit, in an efF^^tual application 
of thegofpel, a cogent objedion to the presfcher's addreiT- 
ing the confcience of his hearer ; unlefs it be admitted 
againft expounding of the fcriptures to enlighten his un- 
derftanding; for except a man is taught of God, be is inca- 
pable of difcerning the things of his Spirit : So that on 



t04 L £ C T U R E S 6 N 

this pretence, all kind of preaching may be cen fared as 
ufelefs, and indeed every means of knowledge and con-^ 
vi6lion refufed, fince there is no branch of the miniftry, 
the fuccefs of which doth not abfolutely depend on the 
power of the Holy Ghoft : But moral endeavours to in- 
form the judgment, and to touch the hearts of a chriftiaii 
audience, are equally juft, agreeable to the teftimony of 
God, and perfectly confiftent with the office of the, Spirit, 
who alone can effe^lually teach the children of men." "' 

Various are the talents of preachers, and alfo the occa- 
iions and circumftances which may occur in the courfe of 
their miniftry. Thefe, with their difpofition under the 
guidance of the Spirit, who directs the hearts of his fer- 
^ants at his pleafure, hath a prevailing influence in the me- 
thod they take in difcourfing on the kingdom of God ; nor 
do I more than recommend the inftance before us as, 
"what I apprehend, a genuine ftandard of preaching; I 
hope this may be allowed, and efpecially fince it pleafed 
the Lord to honor the pattern with fo great and wonder- 
ful fuccefs. 

The example is clear. Peter preaching to the Jews, 
proves from the fcripture, that he whom they had crucifi- 
ed, and who was raifed from the dead, was indeed the 
Meffiah foretold by the prophets ; and having fo done, 
though his audience confilled of the moft hardened and 
guilty perfons, who, in all appearance, were held under' 
the power of fm and unbelief, he winds up his difcourfe in 
an affectionate addrefs to this obftinate and peri filing mul- 
titude, calling on all, and every one to refled on the 
things he had fpoken. In this clofing application he evi- 
dently points out a plain truth, which refults from the con- 
fideration of what he had alledged, namely, that this fame 
Jefus was manifeftly both Lord and Chrift, and earneftly 
befeeches them to receive it. In like manner our Lord 
himfelf, and the difciples he fent in the courfe of his life, 
laboured to convince thofe who attended their miniftry. 
It appears from the facred hiftory, that, they went forth 
expounding the fcriptures, to open the underftanding and 



PRIMITIVE GHRlSTIANitY. 105 

re^lify the judgment of their hearers ; and from thence 
proceeded to infer, exhort and excite them, that through 
grace, the doftrines they taught, being mixed with faith, 
might be duly applied and reduced to experience and prac- 
tice. This method alfo runs through the whole apofto- 
lic roiniftration ; and though as obferved, there will be a 
great variety in the manner of preachers, I cannot but 
think that way which confills with this general plan mod 
agreeable to the defign of a gofpel-miniftry, which is to ir- 
radiate the underftanding, and likewife to affecl the heart, 
both which are needful. To aim at moving the paffions, 
without informing the judgment, or a full perfuafion of the 
truth ; and on the other hand to reft in a bare report of 
the dodlrines reveaU.d. in the bible, in a negleft, of perfonal 
application and addrefQng the confciences of men, that 
they may be fuitably impreifed with the things that are fpo- 
ken, feem equally wrong ; the one has a tendency to flat- 
ter perfons with an hope grounded in their own imagina^ 
tions rather than the teftimony of God, which is vain ; and 
the other to fill them with a conceit of themfelves, on ac- 
count of their notions of the gofpel, without any regard to 
the fruits of that faith which is of the operation of God : 
In each cafe the fubjed deceives himfelf : and therefore 
whatever tends to cherifh either, fhould be avoided as un- 
friendly to the intereft of real religion. In a word, from 
the ftate of the natural man, and from univerfal experience, 
it is clear, that the mod judicious explanations orfervant 
addrefles, which the ableft preacher on earth can deliver, 
are infufficient of themfelves to enlighten or enlarge the 
mind of a hearer. And with me it is no lefs certain, that 
from the beginning, the minifters of Chrift, by reafoning 
out of the fcriptures, and by a particular and earneft ap- 
plication to their audience, fought to convince them and 
bring them to the obedience of faith. Once more, 

3. This inftance proves that gofpeUminifters fliould, 
under no pretence whatever decline their utmoft endea- 
vours to convert any perfon or people, however notorious 
their infidelity and wickednefs. It mav be ufeful to con- 

O 



106 L E C T U 11 E S O N 

fider this point, left by any means our own carnal reafari 
and foolilh miftakes give the enemy advantage, through a 
Tiegle^l of the fouls committed to our charge in a private 
or public capacity. If fmgular liardnels, infidelity and 
guilt, rendered the fliameful fubjei^ls unmeet for the at- 
tempts of a goipel-miniller, Peter had never taken fuch 
pains to awaken and convince thefe blood-guilty fmners. 
Men, who, in contempt of all the miraculous and unde- 
niable teftimony from heaven, in favour of the lioly Jefus, 
iiotwithftanding the light and eonvi£lion they had receiv- 
ed concerning his being a man approved of God, yet for 
envy in malice betrayed and murdered him; men that 
were hardened in their infidelity, and had no remorie 
for this great wickednefs, but continued to refift the Holy 
Ghoft, infomuch, as that many of them had been mocking 
at his extraordinary gifts ; I fay, the apoftle would not 
have laboured to convince thefe feemingly abandoned 
tranfgreffors, if the vileft of men were to be left in def- 
pair. When the defcendants of thofe who fear God, caf^ 
away the cords of a religious education, or when fuch, in 
wliom convi6lions have been raifed, quench the light they 
have received, and become openly licentious and wicked, 
having turned their backs on the ways of God, or it may 
be fet their mouths and faces againft heaven, their confci- 
ences feeiti tp be feared, and their condition is truly de- 
plorable and dangerous, we may well tremble for tliem, 
left, being given up of God, they finally rejedl his counfel 
to their ruin 1 Nevcrthelefs their cafe is not defperate, 
tieither are even fuch to be excluded from the means of 
lalvatioR* 

Ghrift came to fa\H| fmners ; nor is any fitiner beyond 
the reach of his arm. The miniftration of his word there- 
fore waits the pleafure and power of God without re- 
fpeft of perfons. A defpifed gofpel indeed hath been 
taken away, and the candleftick removed out of his place. 
Hence a famine of hearing the word of the Lord, and the 
people perifli for lack of knowledge, which is awful to 
conlider ; but where the kingdom of heaven is continued, 
iio degree of infidelity or v/ickedriefs flioulddifcourage or 



I^RIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 107 

prevent the mlnifters of Jefus from n:riving after the con- 
veHion oF men. No nation under heaven was ever more- 
corrupt and guilty than the Jews at this time, and efpe- 
cially the inhabitants of their capital city ; and yet we 
iind the difciples went forth, as the Lord had command- 
ed, and preached repentance and remilFion of fins hi his 
name, beginning at jerufalem, as in the inftance before 
us. And Ihall it ever be thought that any man's wicked- 
nefs can, render him, unmeet for the miniftry of the gofpel ? 

It is wrong then to fay of this or ths other perfon, he 
is fo hardened in unbelieF, and a wretch fo abandoned to 
his lull, that it is in vain to reafon with him on fm, or 
^ighteoufnefs-, or judgment to come,, or to declare unto 
him the power and glory of Jefus. This favours of igno^ 
ranee, feif-fufJiciency, and.a diftruft of that power which 
alone can fubdue the traRfgreifor :. Is the divine arm- 
ihortened that it cannot fave f Sh^ll man, determine the 
tounfel of God, or &t bounds to his grace ? When under, 
any temptation we think or fpeak thus, do we not forget 
the fuccefs which attended tiie preaching of. the gpfr 
pie, even among thofs who murdered the 3aviour, that 
the veflels of mercy are unknown to us, and that the con- 
verfion of a finner is by the powe.r of.God, accompanying 
the perfuafipn of. the p.reacher ?, 

In fliort, the miniftratibn of die gofpel proceeds on thofe 
principles which, vyarrant and oblige, yea, and encourage 
thofe v/.ho are employed therein to preach to, and plead 
wixh the greateit t ran fgre (Tors, and moft perverfe unbe- 
lievers, if peradventure God will grant them repentance to 
the acknowledgment of the tj'uth. The vUeil finner, or 
the moll obftinate infidel is within the reach of omnipo- 
tent grace : The Lord's people fliall be willing in the day 
of his power, and his fervants Ihall find their labour (hall 
not be in vain in him. But if any are permitted to harden 
themfelves to their deftruftion, faithful minifters are unto 
God a fweet favour of Chrift in them that are faved and 
m them that perifli. To the one they are "a favour 01 
••^ death unto death, and to the other a favour of life unto 



lo8 LECTURES ON 

*' life. And who is fufEcient for thefe things?'' 2 Cor. 
ii. 15, 16, ' 

Thus, then by the manner in which Peter finiOied his 
famous and fuccefsful difcourfe to the Jews, we learn that 
the conftitution and authority of Jefus, in the charade r of 
the Meffiah, is a principal fubjed of a gofpel-miniftry ; that 
it belongs to that miniftration earneftly to exhort and ftir 
up all that hear, unto a believing application of the things 
that are fpoken. And further, that the miniiters of Chrift 
are not to withhold their endeavour after the converfion 
of the moil notorious tranfgrelTors, 

And now, my dear Reader, permit me, after this noble 
example, to exhort and befeech thee. Art thou carelefs 
and unconcerned about the falvation publiflied in the gof- 
pel ? Know thou that this fame Jefus whom we preach, 
and who was crucified without the gates of Jerufalem, is 
alive from the dead, and is made of God both Lord and 
Chrift, O that thine heart was poffeffed of this allUrance, 
and no longer capable of a moment's eafe without an in- 
tereft in this only and almighty Saviour I Satan waits to 
fuggeft thofe imaginations which may prevent the import^ 
ant convidion j and when it takes place, thy own carnal 
reafon, and the feeds of infidelity, which grow in thy 
ilefh, will if poflible ei^tinguifh it. But there is not the 
leaft ground to hefitate that the Father hath indeed railed 
tip his Son Jefus, and fet him at his own right hand, until 
his foes are his footftool, The effufion of the Spirit, the 
fpread of the gofpel, the fearful deftru£lion of the city 
^nd temple at Jerufalem, and the prefent difperfed ftate 
of the Jews, are inconteftible proofs that Jefus is exalted ; 
and as fure as he ever exifted on earth, and is paffed into 
heaven, fo certain it is that he is the only Saviour, author- 
ized of God to judge the quick and the dead at his appear- 
ance and kingdom, How miferable then mult thou be, 
if in the end thou art found amon^ them who obey not the 
gofpel ! It availed not thefe Jews to be of the houfe of 
Ifrael, neither will it ftand thee in ftead to be a nominal, 
chriftiart, if thou an not a true worfnipper of Chrift &s 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 109 

thy Lord and Saviour, Deceive not thyfelf ; tlie wrath 
of the Lamb v/ill furely come down on all unbelievers, 
and tear them to pieces. There is none to deliver. Thou 
wilt therefore find it a certain and eternal truth ; it is the 
fum of the gofpel, Mark xvi. 16. *•• He that believeth 
*' and is baptized Oiall be faved, but he that believeth not 
*' fliall be damned." 

But haft thou, Beloved, feen the Lord's Ghrift ? and is 
he the obje<ft of thy truft? How precious this truth? 
With reverence and joy behold this fanle Jefus who died 
for thy fins, and who defpifed the fliame of the crofs, 
now openly inverted and highly exalted univerlal Lord, 
thy Lord, and thy Godi Fear not though in many 
temptations, thy King is able to lave thee : He lives to 
defend thee in life, to prefei-ve thee in death, and to 
bring thee fafe to his heavenly kingdom. And is he 
thy Lord ? Then worlhip thou him. Nothing can 
more loudly demand thy profeffed fubje^ion to gofpel- 
appointments. Haft thou never 37et publicly devoted 
thyfelf to Jefus, and confefted to his name? How canft 
thou believe him made of the Father Lord and Chrift^ 
and withhold thy obedience, or omit what he hath com- 
manded? Doth thy confcience accufe thee of this ? Blufli 
and repent, think how ungrateful and prefumptuous it is 
to negle^lthe orders of thy Redeemer who is enthroned 
in the heavens, and before whom thou muft fhortly ap- 
pear I Alfo hear what the Father faith, " Yet have I 
*' let my King on my holy hill of Zion," Pfalm ii. 6.—^ 
And attend to the honor he pays him, '■'- Thy throne, O 
*' God, is for ever and ever ; a fceptre of righteOufnefs 
** is the fceptre of thy kingdom V^ Heb. i. 8. And wilt 
thou not bow in the name of this Jefus ? or wilt thou re- 
fule to oWn his authority in the light of the world? Surely 
it becomes thee, my Friend, to adore and ferve thy dig- 
nified Saviour, ••' who is over all God blelTed for ever. 
Amen." 



THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK, 



Primitive Chriftianity 



BOOK III. 



IN WHICK 

The wonderful fuccefs of the apoftle's firft 
fermon at Jerufalem, is particularly con-^ 
fidered and improved. 



LECTURE IX. 

Slewing the state of their hearts ivho fell under convic* 
tion* By *wbat means they vjere awakened ; and the\ 
method they took for relief. 

ISAIAH complains, in reference to the Jews, fay-v 
ing, " Who hath believed our report ?" Yet it was 
not in vain that the word of the Lord was preached at 
Jerufalem. Peter had no fooner finiflied his difcourfe, but> 
lo, many of his hearers appeared deeprly aftei^ed, info- 
much that they cry out in the midll of the aflembly. — - 
Their acclamation was not like the fevind of enthufiafts. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, ut 

wlio, under a falfe impreflion, have been fome times found 
to fcream and tofs in a wild and frantic manner : No ; but 
being awakened to a juft fenfe of their mifery, they make 
a fober, though an earnefl: and anxious enquiry fuited to 
their deplorable condition. The account is as follows, 
and is recorded, A6ls ii. 37. " Now when they had heard 
" this, they were pricked in their heart, and faid unto 
" Peter, and to the reft of the apollies, Men and brc^ 
'*"*• thren, what ihail we do V^ 

In this hiftorical paflage an amazing fcene is prefented; 
thoufands oF finners awakened in an inilant, alike fmitten, 
as the Ifraelites in the wildernefs j every one wounded, 
lifting up their voice, as one man, in the prefence of a 
multitude who attetided the apollies. How aftoniflied th© 
audience, to behold and to hear fo many perfons, in the 
utmoft diftrefs, beleeching his minifters whom, but a few 
weeks before, they had crucified as an impoftor 1 Here 
then is another external evidence to the men of Judea, 
proving the divine million and glorious (late of Jefus, in 
whofe name the difcipies appeared. An extraordinary 
event this, attended with peculiar circumftances; But the 
elTe^ls of God's grace are fubltantially the fame in every 
fubje^lof his power. One convinced fmner may be more 
and longer terrified under a fenfe of his guilt than another; 
but no real penitent is altogether a ftranger to the diftrefs 
which filled the hearts of thefe Jews ; he is not without 
1=1 taftc ©f this forrow : And every convert has been com- 
pelled, as it were, to the fame enquiry: In anfwer to 
which, he has by fome means been led to the Saviour, and 
found reft for his fouL May no one, employed in read- 
ing thefe papers, be finally unacquainted with that fpirit- 
ual trouble which is needful to bring him to Chrift, and to 
prepare him for a joyful reception of the gofpeli 

It may be ufeful to confider the painful ftate of thefe 
awakened tranfgreffors ; by what means they were con- 
vinced and became thus diltrefled j and the method they 
Took for relief; particulars which le^d to the expemnce 



iia L E C T U R E S O N 

Slid praflice oF thofe in whom the word is the pov/er o£ 
God to falvation. 

Their condition was truly deplorable : " They v/ere 
*' pricked in the heart." A fore cafe indeed, and grievous 
fceyond all exprelTion 1 The heart taken fpiritually, and it 
cannot here beunderftood in a natural fenfe, is often com- 
prehenfive of all the powers and faculties of the foul, as 
when it is faid, '■'■ Truft in the Lord with all thine heart." 
And again, " With the heart inanbelieveth unto righ- 
*■'- teoufnefs.'* Bnt in this paffage, as in many other places, 
it feeras confined to the confcience. Thus it is written, 
2i Sam, xxiv. lo. that David's heart, i. e. his confcience 
*' fmote him when he had numbered the people," as ap- 
pears from his confeiTion : " He faid unto the Lord, I 
" have finned greatly in that I have done." And the word 
1^ thus taken, i John iii. 21. " If our hearts condemn us 
*'not, i. e. if we have the teflimony of a good confcience, 
*' we have boldnefs, &c." In like manner fays Job, chap, 
:!^vii. 6. " My heart fliall not reproach me as long as I 
*f live." Confcience in the foul of man is a kind of vice- 
_judge ; and, except in an obdurate flate, it is everaccufing 
or excufmg the fubje<^, R-^m. ii. 15. It may lie dormant 
a feafon, but will furely awake, and with a terrible voice 
bear witnefs againft the tranfgreffor. Thus, in the inftance 
before us ; Peter having charged upon the Jews the mur- 
der of Chrift, through a divine power it entered the con- 
fcience of many, who were touched to the quick, infomuch^ 
that while he reafoned with them out of the fcriptures, 
his words became as drawn fwords, and pierced through 
their fouls. Thus the word of God, however unaffe6led 
inen hardened in unbelief may be, when it comes with the 
energy of the Holy Ghoft, " is quick and powerful, fliar- 
*' per than any two-edged fword, piercing even to the di« 
'^ viding afunder foul and fpirit," Heb. iv. 12. Sothefe 
Jerufalem-finners found it, whofe wounds are mofl; em- 
phatically exprefled by a word no where elfe ufed in all 
the New-Teftament, which fignifies to vex, rend, or punc- 
tually wound^ as if a man was pierced to the centre of his 
heart with an arrow or fpear ! yea fdme illuftrate the 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 113 

term, by fuppofing the (harp points of many poifoned dag- 
gers or fcorpion-ftings all at once fade ned in the heart, 
in the moft cruel manner that can be devifed. Thus forely 
and pun<^ually wounded were thefe fmful men: and this 
ftriking expreffion imports the following articles : 

I. That their convi£iions were deep and efFe£lual. It 
was no fuperficial on tranfitory impreffion, neither were 
they merely cut to the heart, as the Pharifees were un- 
der another fermon by the fame apoftle, chap. v. 33, or 
like thofe at the reproof of Stephen the martyr, chap. vii. 
54. in both which places, a very different word is ufed, in 
which there is an allufion to a faw that tears and hacks 
ratheV than pierces, and fitly reprefents thofe convi£lions, 
which, however painful while they continue, leave, the 
fubjeft under the power of lin, and rather irritate than 
mortify the flelh. There is a material difference between 
being cut to^ and pricked in the heart ; the one fets the 
fubjeft a raging, whereas the other engages him to repent- 
ance. And accordingly we find, that thofe affeded in 
the former way, fought revenge on the apoftles who re- 
proved them ; they took counfel to flay them, gnaihed 
with their teeth, and even ftoned righteous Stephen : On 
the contrary, in the inftance before us, we fee that thefe 
men, felf-condemned, and perfuaded of the authority of 
Jefus, with the higheft efteem of his minifters, unanimoufly 
addrefs them as the fervants of God to fhew them the 
way of falvation. They were deeply and painfully con- 
vinced, but they were not offended, as fo me, with their 
teachers : No ; they appear humble and contrite : fenli- 
ble of their own vilenefs, they were ready to perilh under a 
fearful expe<Slation of the wrath of the Lamb they had 
flain: and if tljey had any indignation it was againft them- 
felyes, and not againft thofe that were the inftruments of 
pofleffing them with a fenfe of their guilt. This was their 
cafe : they were pricked in the heart — the arrows of the 
Almighty ftuck in them — the words of the preacher, by 
the power of God, entered deep and faftened in their con- 
fcience — under which they cry out for diredion how they 
lliall efcape. No wonder that, 

P 



114 LECTURES ON 

2. Their pains were exquifite. AnguiQi arofe frofli 
thefe deep and powerful convi6lions. This, we have feen, 
is a principal idea of the word. No language can fully de. 
Icribe the torments of being wounded in the manner im- 
plied in this term. The acute fenfations that arife from 
being pierced in the vitals, or moft nervous parts of the 
body, are not to be told. How intolerable then are the 
pains of a wounded confcience, a heart fpiritually and 
throughly wounded, when every feculty of the foul is tor- 
tured, under a fenfe of guilt, accompanied with a fearful 
apprehenfion of approaching vengeance I Yet this is not 
all : for, 

3. It further conveys this idea alfo, that their wound 
Was deadly. It was not only deep and cruciating, but no 
lefs than mortal, and left to its natural courfe muft have 
been fatal. This, however dreadful, is clearly laid up in 
the phrafe. It is well known, that an entrance into the 
natural heart, is at leaft certain, and for the moft part pre- 
fent death to the body. Hence the foldier who pierced 
the body of our Saviour, while it hung on the crofs, con- 
firmed his deceafe. For the natural body may feem to be 
dead, when in reality, it is alive, the vital principle being only 
retired' out of fight ; but it is impoffible that a man (hould 
fiirvive a wound that is truly and properly in bis heart. 

But our fubje£l is fpiritual. He that is pricked in the 
heart, as thefe men of Judea, dies immediately, i. e. a fen- 
tence of condemnation and death enters his confcience ;• 
and being felf-convided, under a fenfe of his guilt and pol- 
lution, all hopes of being juftified in and from himfelf are 
vaniihed away. Thus faith Paul, " When the command- 
" ment came fin revived and I died : and the coramand- 
" metvt which was ordained unto life, I found to be unto 
** death,*^' Rom. vii, 9 A human body, into the heart of 
which a dagger has been thruft, is not more certainly dead^ 
ki a natural, than the man whofe confcience hath been 
pierced with a due convi6lion of fin is in a fpiritual fenfe. 
Thus, dead in himfelf, he maybe truly reprefented as having, 
received a mortal wound, fince the terrors of death are fal- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 115 

kn upon him ; and unlefs relieved, through failh in the 
l^lood of Chrift, and by the remiiiion of his fins, he would 
certainly die in defpair and periih for ever. In a word, 
coHvinced finners are not unlike the terrified Egyptians, 
when they haftened the Ifraelites out of the land, laying, 
** We be all dead men," Exod. xii. 33. But blefled bb 
the Lord, " he is nigh unto them who are of a broken heart, 
♦' and faveth fuch as be of a contrite fpirit, he healeth 
** and biqdeth up all their wounds, according to the riches 
^' of his grace,'' Pfalm xxxiv. 18. xlvii. 3. compared. ■ 

But what pierced the heart of thefe inourning tranfgreflT- 
ors ? Their guilt, even the guilt of all their fins in 
general, as appears from the apoftle's reply : Firft feized 
with a tormenting fenfe of their horrid and aggravated 
evil in the murder of Chrift, whom they now were con- 
vinced was exalted to glory ; then followed a fenfe of 
their vilenefs by nature, and their manifold tranfgreffions, 
from the punifliment of which they faw noway of efcape, 
iince they had fhed the blood of the only Saviour ; their 
fears therefore ran high, and they were under a dreadful 
apprehenfion of the vengeance of heaven. This was their 
wrttched condition ; and thus they were ready to periih. 
To which muft be added, that this was in fome degree the 
cafe of each individual : it was not fympathetick but radi- 
cal ; that is, one did not cry out for another, but each for 
himfelf ; they might be fome more and fome lefs diftrelfed, 
but every one was cordially, deeply, painfully, and mor* 
tally wounded. 

But how came they thus forely diftrefied ? It was by the 
preaching of Peter : '-'■ When they heard this." The whole 
of the apoftle's difcourfehad a tendency to awaken them; 
and it is reafonable to fuppofe, that they were much mov- 
ed under his preaching ; but our tranllators, by fupply- 
ing the particle tbis^ ieeni to apprehend, that the clofin^ 
addreis was what moft affeded thefe men, and particu- 
larly when they heard that this fame Jefiis, whom the)/^ 
had crucified, was advanced to the throne in the heavens. 
Yet I apprehend it is to be referred to the fennoa in ge- 



ji6 LECTURES ON 

neral. Butv/as the hearing intended that of the outward 
ear only ? Certainly No ; this indeed v/as included* 
They doubtlefs heard in a natural fenfe. But if this was 
all, how comes it then that the audience in general, in 
like manner, were not afFefted ? Peter, we have feen, lift- 
ed up his voice, and though the affembly was large, there 
is reafon to conclude that every one heard him diftin(^ly. 
If natural hearing had been fufficient, not a foul of the 
thoufands prefent would have remained infenfible ; but 
thofe who cry out in the text, though many in number 
are manifeftly diftinguiflied from the reft of the multitude, 
which proves it was not the cafe univerfally. 

It was in this affembly, as in moft congregations where 
the gofpel is publifhed withfuccefs ; fome hear the word, 
under the preaching of which others, who fet with them, 
are convinced and converted ; yet, alas, they themfelves 
feel no remorfe,but remain hardened, as if they had never 
iinned, or ftood in no need of a Saviour ! Thus, when Paul 
preached at Rome, "fome believed the things that were 
*' fpoken, and fome believed them not," Afts xxviii. 24. 
Truly, bare hearing, however diftind and exa6l, or long 
continued, is altogether infufficient to produce this effe£l. 
No preaching wtiateve-r is capable of poffeffmg the hearer, 
who is left in his native blindnefs, with a due fenfe of fm, 
fpiritual forrow, or earneft concern to be faved. In vain 
are the weapons of our warfare employed againft the pow- 
er of fin in an unregenerate man, unlefs the omnipotent 
arm of Jehovah is exerted, and the fmner is changed ; the 
ignorance, unbelief, pride and enmity of his carnal mind, 
renders it invulnerable, like Job's leviathan : Thefe fcales, 
under which he is fhut up, feals him clofe j nothing fhort 
of a divine power can penetrate his flefli and quicken his 
foul; he is proof againft any argument, how ftrong and 
convincing foever : The comparifon is but too juft, "his 
*' heart is as firm as a ftone, yea as hard as a piece of a 
*' nether mill-ftone : darts are counted as ftubble, and he 
" laugheth at the fhaking of the fpear." 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 117 

But the Spirit of the Lord had wrought efFe^lually in 
thefe Jerufalem-finners, and prepared their minds for the 
reception of his word ; he had taken away the heart of 
ftone and given an heart of flelh. Hence they heard with 
underftanding, faith andattention, as in Lydia, whofe heart 
the Lord opened, A6ls xvi, 14. Convidions prevailed, 
and they felt what they heard ; and being fully perfuaded, 
they were not difobedient, but believing, aflured them- 
felves that God had made Jefus of Nazareth both Lord 
and Chrift . Yet their faith did not rife to an appropriating 
view of the Saviour 1 from this they were prevented by a 
fearful apprehenfion, natural in their circumftances, of be- 
ing excluded from an iittereft in his undertaking and death, 
whofe blood they had wickedly flied ; A thought which 
throws light on the fenfe of their queftion, and leads to the 
method they took for relief. They did not as fome, give 
up all hope, or reje6l the counfel of God againll thenifelves. 
Convi6lions, which leave the fubje£t under the power of 
fin and unbelief, either excite their natural averfion to the 
wifdom of God, or iffue in defpair. Such is the fatal ten- 
dency of legal convi^ion on the difobedient. Very differ- 
ent the fpirit and condud of thefe mourning finners. Un- 
der a deep fenfe of their guilt and a full p^rfuafion of the 
authority of Jefus, they are indeed in the utmoft confter- 
nation and anguifli of foul, and even ready to perifti, yet 
have fome diftant hope. They could not difcern how they 
could be faveti-by him they had murdered ; neverthelefs 
they apply to his minifters in a manner that proves a deep 
humiliation of foul, and an earneft defire, if poilible, to ob- 
tain the falvation of God ; yea and fome expectation, at 
leaft a peradventure, that his fervants could dired them. 
They heartily believed that Jefus was the Chrift ; and 
their open and earneft application to the apoftles whd 
preached in his name, in the prefence of all who crouded 
the temple, was an acknowledgment of him as far as 
their condition could poffibly admit. Hopeful penitents 
indeed I to Peter and to the reft of the apoftles, thefe 
awakened and wounded tranfgreflbrs betake themfelves 
for advice in their dangerous ftate ; and to whom fliould 
they g^o, but to them whofe preaching had been a means 



ii8 L E C T U R E S O N 

of convincing them of the glory and authority of Jefu^ 
as the only Lord and true Meffiah, though that very con- 
vi<ftion, under their prefent circumftances, fubje^led therii 
to the moil painful diilrefs ? It is wifdora,in this fenfe, to 
turn unto him that hath torn us for an healing, it being 
often the pleafure of the Almighty to bind up with the 
fame hand by which he hath fmitten. Thus dire<fted by 
the Spirit of wifdom, thefe dillreffed finners apply to the 
apoftles for relief, and that with the higheft refpe6l ; 
••> Men and brethren.'* Unbelievers are prone to defpife 
the minifters of the gofpel, but they who ftand in need 
of falvation greatly reverence and eftecm them. Thus 
the Jailor fled to Paul and Silas, though his prifoners, 
faying, " Sirs, what muft I do to be faved ?" A6ls xvi. 
30. An enquiry for fubftance, the fame with that which 
is made by thefe awakened Jews of Peter and thofe that 
v/ere with him: "What Ihall we do? This queftioh 
fiippofes a fenfe of their guilt, and implies a confeffioh 
of the fame, with a painful apprehenfion of impending 
wrath and deftrudioi) : It iikewife intimates a perfuafion 
of the apoftle's auth'c^"ity and Ikill in the methods of falva- 
tion, and alfo fome hope of their compaffion and readinefs 
to diYt£t them! in this fearful dilemma: '^What fliall we 
do ?" I am fenfible that there is a pronenefs in man, un- 
der legal conviftion, to feek after righteoufnefs by his own 
works, hence it is remarked by fome, on this claufe that 
awakened finners are generally at firft upon a covenant of 
works ; but, with fubmiflion, I apprehend the purport of 
the queflion, under the circumftances of thefe convi<5ls, 
convey quite another idea^ The difference between the 
perfons in the text, and that of the Jailor is obvious : His 
confcience was awakened by an alarming providence, 
which filled him with guilty fears, and the terrors of wrath 
were upon him. He might indeed have fome general no-* 
tion that Paul and Silas were fervants of God, and no doubt 
he thought they could inftrud him ; but there is reafon to 
conclude, that he was an utter flranger to the fcriptures, 
and to Chrift as the Saviour of finners ; hence the word 
of the golpel was fpoken to him and his houfe. But thefe 
men of Judca knew the prophets j and their convi^liop, 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, up 

took pla^e under thdpreachingof Peter, and arofe from a 
perfuafion that Jefus whom they had flain was the Chrift* 
The queftion with them, was not who was the Saviour, 
nor how fmners are to be faved by him ? It feems chiefly, 
if not altogether to turn on this point, namely, whether 
there was any hope for them, feeing they had crucified liim 
who alone had power to fave, q. d. '' O men and Bre- 
*' thren, we are now perfuaded that Jefus of Nazareth is • 
" truly the MeiFiah, what then fhall we do? Ourtranf- 
" greffions are innumerable, and our iniquity great ! We 
" are vile and finful beyond all expreffion, and are verily 
" guilty in fhedding the blood of that holy One, whom 
'' God approved among us. Is there any hope for us in 
" this fame Jefus God hath made both Lord and Chrift? 
*' What fliall we do ! We that have crucified the only 
" Saviour? How iliall we efcape his righteous vengeance ? 
*' Is it podible for us to be faved by him we have mur- 
" dered? Alas, for us, blood-guilty tranfgreffars ! O 
" tell us, we befeech you. Sirs, tell us what we (liall 
*' do I" Thus they were forely perplexed, but not in de- 
fpair, though indeed very near it, for being convinced of 
fin, of righteoufnefs, and of judgment to come, and of 
the authority of that Jefus they flew, to fave and to de- 
llroy, they could not fee how it was poflible thev fiiould 
be faved; It was truly a very dark cafe, and extremely 
dangerous, infomuch, that if any awakened felf condemn- 
ed finner had reafon to defpair, thofe men moft certainly 
had : but, adored be the riches af fovereign mercy, re- 
pentance and remiffion of fins was preached in his nam-e, 
and even began with fuccefs at Jerufalem. It appears in 
the following account, that many, who were more or iefs 
concerned in killing the Prince of life, were faved through 
faith in the blood they had ilied. Aftonifliing grace 1 O 
the confufion that will feize thofe, who peridi under the- 
rffport of the gofpel, when finners, who crucified the Son 
of God, (liall appear to inherit lifi? everlafting I I'he fear- 
ful impetinent will have no jull: ground of complaint, or 
be able to plead, in judgment to come, that there was 
not fufficient encouragement for his hope of being faved-. 
€R repentance. Thele examples of rich and fuperabound- 



i<io LECTURES ON 

ing grace will then redound to the honor of God, and 
the unbeliever (hall be covered with fhame. Art thou 
defpairing, dear Reader, becaufe of thine aggravated guilt? 
think on the mercy thefe tranfgreflbrs obtained, whofe fins 
were as fcarlet and crimfon, but were waftied in his blood 
whom they crucified. Look unto Jefus and be faved ; 
thou fhalt not be confounded, but Hand with his faints 
before him at his coming. 



LECTURE XI, 



Mn Improvement on the case of those who were convinced 
hy the preaching of Peter^ on the day of Pentecost, 



HAVING taken a view of their forrowful cafe 
who were awakened under Peter's difcourfe, and 
the method they purfued for relief, it may be ufeful to 
make fome remarks on this firft inftance of fuccefs by the 
gofpel publiftied in the name of a rifen Saviour. Thefe, 
with proper reflections, will compofe the enfuing lecture. 

And the firft thing deferving our notice is this, namely, 
that from the beginning finners have been convinced and 
awakened to a concern about falvation by Chrift, under 
the hearing of the word. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. iai 

The fovereignty of God may may be difplayed, in open- 
ing the heart, without the intervention of a preacher ; nor 
is it becoming tofuppofe thatthe Lord hath limittedhimfelf 
in the difpenfations of his grace ; Other means are fub- 
ordinate to this appointment of heaven for the converli- 
on of men, fometimes, as with the jailor, ftriking pro- 
vidences have been fubfervient to the purpofe of God 
in the call of his chofen ; alfo prayer, reading, and the 
fpiritual difcourfe of the faints ; and above all, the holy, 
loving and fruitful lives of profefTors, have conduced to 
the convincing of others : thefe, I fay, are often the 
means of promoting the faith, infomuch that many date 
their firll awakenings from one or more of them ; never- 
thelefs, the principal ftated, and ordinary method in which 
the Almighty turneth fmners to himfelf, is the word 
preached, as in the inftance before us. Peter expounded 
the prophecies, reafoned out of the fcriptures, and appli- 
ed to the conlcience of his hearers with earneft addrefs ; 
by this means many were pricked in the heart, and moved 
to enquire, what they muft do ? the confequence of which, 
as hereafter appears, was that, on due encouragement, 
they embraced the gofpel, obtained remiflion, and were 
faved. In this way we are to attempt the converfion 
of men to the end of the world ; " for it pleafeth God, 
" by the fooliflinefs of preaching, to fave them that be- 
*' lieve." The preaching of the crofs may be efteemed 
foolifh by an ignorant and perifhing world, but to them 
that are faved it is the wifdom and power of God: 
Thus faith comes by hearing, Rom. x. 17. Hence, beau- 
tiful are the feet of them who publifh the gofpel of peace I 
This being the cafe, we are not to wonder that Satan 
fhould, by every means in his power, fet at nought, or 
difcourage the miniflry of the word, which he fometimes, 
when premitted, attempts, by perfecutions and fiery tri- 
als, to terrify and diflieaiften men from the fervice ; but 
at other times, by fcducing men into error, di ford er, and 
licentioufnefs, under the prevalency of which, there may 
be much preaching, and at the fame time but little preach- 
ing of Chriilj while thofe few, whofe miniftry and con- 



Ui 1 E G T U R E S M 

Verfation anfwer to the word of the Lord, are under fere 
difcouragements, yea and the very office itfelf in a man- 
ner defpifed. Whether there are no appearances tend- 
ing this way in the prefent time, is left to the confide- 
rate Reader ; bat this is certain, that the enemy will at- 
tempt to difgrace and turn aiide men from that fort of 
preaching of which we have an example in Peter ; the 
old ferpent well knows, that reafoning from the authority 
of God, unto the confciences of men, or arguments from 
fcripture, are proofs againft him, and fatal to his intereft, 
being an appointed and efFe6lual means through the ener- 
gy of the Spirit, for pulling down his ftrong holds and ref- 
cuing poor captive fmners from his kingdom of darknefs. 
And is gofpel-preaching the ordinary means of falvation ? 
How melancholy their cafe, who under any temptation, 
withdraw themfelves from, or negle6l the hearing of the 
word ! Such are in the utmoft danger of ruin I Noth- 
ing is impoffible with God ; but we have no promife 
or other ground of hope, that he will follow after that 
man who forfakes the means of grace. Art thou tempt- 
ed my Friend, to turn away thine ear from the found of 
the gofpel ! Beware, thou haft no reafon to expe£l that the 
Lord will prevent thee ; and if thou art left in thine im- 
penitence and hardnefs, thou flialt die in thy fins, and 
perilh for ever i but this God forbid ! 

Another thing deferving our notice, is the pungency 
©f guilt in the confcience. We have feen how cruciating 
the pains endured by thofe awakened tranfgreflbrs. Thus 
every one truly convinced, is more or lefs pricked in the 
heart. Thefe wounds by conviction are deeper, and of 
longer continuance in fome than in others ; but no quick-, 
ened finner is an utter ftranger to the torment of guilt, 
and fome are grievoufly wounded indeed : fuch are ready 
to cry out, as in Job, chap. vi. 4. " The arrows of the 
** Almighty are within me : the poifon thereof drinketh 
** up my fpirit, the terrors of God do fet themfelves in 
*' array againft me.*' It may be ufeful to remember, that 
conviftions are fometimes like ftiarp arrows of the migh- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 13^ 

ty, with coals of jimiper, piercing and burning the fp'^rit, 
till it isTri^ manner confumed with death. Thus David 
gives his experience, Pfalm Ixii. 3, 4. " When I kept 
^'' filence,"i. e. from confefling ray fins, " my bones waxe4 
" old through my roaring all the day long ; for day and 
" night thy hand was heavy upon me," i. e. preffing hiiix 
fore with the weight of his iniquities, which now went 
over him as an heavy burthen, too heavy for him. Pfalra 
xxxviii. a, 4. Thus the wrath of God was like fire ia 
his confcience, and as it were burnt him up, for he adds, 
*' my moifture is turned into the drought of fummer." 
Heman is another inftance of this, he who crieth out, 
" while I fufFer thy terrors I am diftradled," and again^, 
" thy fierce wrath goeth over me, and thy terrors have 
" cut me ofF,'** Pfalra Ixxxviii. 15, 16. And how pain- 
ful a cafe muft that heinous backflider be in ? who witli 
deep humiliation for his vilcnefs, thus befeeches the God 
of all grace : " Make me to hear joy and gladneis, that 
" the bones which thou haft broken may rejoice,'* Pfalm 
li. 8. One broken bone, often gives the patient inexpref- 
fible pain : how exquifite then muft the forrows of that 
heart be, which is juftly compared to many broken bones, 
or rather to a body the multitude of whofe bones are 
broken to pieces, which feems the allufion of th^ Pfalmift? 
Take heed, Sirs, of fin, and abftain from the appearance 
of evil ; for you fee what dreadful havock it makes in the 
foul, when the wrath of God is let into the confcience, 
Thefe indeed are extraordinary inftances, but he that is 
duly aifefted with the evil of fin, muft be fenfible of the 
curfe of the law, in proportion to which the terrors of 
the Almighty are upon him, and the wound is grievous ; 
many are foon healed by the application of gofpel-grace, 
but fome continue long under an afHi£ling fenfe of their 
defert as finners, without any comfortable view of their 
intereft in Jefus the only Redeemer, which is truly de- 
plorable ; blefled be God their cafe is not defperate, he 
that wounds alfo can heal, and a fountain is opened in 
the gofpel to him who is ready toperifh: but the painji 
which arife from the fting of death in the confcience, arc 
iftmetimes fcarce to be borne j apd he ;hat lies und^y 



114 LECTURES ON 

them, being as yet without an appropriating view of the 
Saviour, is an obje6l of great compaffion, for his forrows 
are not to be told. 

We may further remark, that the moment a man's con- 
fcience is fmitten with guilt, he is anxious for relief. 
Slight impreffions may be foon taken off, by the pre- 
fumptuous and carnal reafonings of the fleftily mind, and 
the disturbed finner may be able by fome means to ftifle 
convi£lion within himfelf ; but thofe fenfations of fin, 
which are not effe^lualto make the fubje£l cry out to God 
or man, or to both, fcarce deferve the name of convicti- 
ons, at leaft, they are very fuperficial, and come (liort of 
thofe that arife from a full difcovery of the law of death 
in the confcience ; under which a man muft die in himfelf, 
be felf-condemned, and as it were flee from himfelf to 
another for relief. Hence awakened fouls are enquiring 
fouls. If thy convictions, dear Reader, have not obliged 
thee to cry for direction and help, thou art yet unac- 
quainted with thy danger, and incapable of feeling the 
joy of falvation in Chrift. 

In one word, if the conduct of thefe Jerufalem-finners 
was becoming or worthy the imitation of others under 
the like circuraflances, it is natural and proper for them 
that are pierced with conviction, to open their cafe unto 
others. Indeed, if I may be allowed the exprellion, God 
is our only Father-con feflbr, and by his Spirit alone can 
the heavy-laden fmner be led unto Chrift, and find reft for 
his foul. Neverthelefs, the Lord operates by means and 
inftruments, and many are held under terror, and expof- 
ed to the temptations of Satan for want of revealing their 
cafe. And there is fuch a thing as fuffering in confe- 
quence of hiding our guilty fears from man, as well as from 
God. O afflicted Sinner, conceal not thy trouble! Art 
thou diftreffed about thy fpiritual eftate I Or doft thoii 
labour under fearful apprehenfions of wrath for thy fms, 
and knoweft not what thou (halt do to be faved ? Come^ 
follow this early example, an example which fo well fuc- 
ceeded — apply to fome chriftian friend or minifter of thei 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. ^125 

gofpel — be not afraid or afliamed to unbofom thyfelf to 
thofe.who fear God — and efpecially f(5ek dire6lion of theni 
by whom lie hath awakened thee. This frequently proves 
a means of fpeedy relief; an inftance of which is before 
thee. To thefe obfervations it may be ufefal to add a 
refle£lion or two. 

And firft, Beloved, review the wonderful fcene ! How 
aftonifliing the grace and power of God ! It was rich 
grace indeed that the gofpel fhould be preached, and 
mercy lay hold on Jerufalem-finners ; that God fhould 
extend his kindnefs to men who had prefumed thus wick- 
edly to crucify the Son of his love ! Yet fuch was his 
abounding grace ! And no lefs marvellous that power by 
which the hearts of fo many obftinate rebels were chang- 
ed, and in an inftant reduced from the utmoft blindnefs 
and infidelity unto a lenfe of their fpiritual condition, a 
belief in the Meffiah, and an unfeigned concern about 
their falvation from wrath to come. O the omnipotent 
arm of the Lord I When that is revealed, the report is 
believed ; and when he worketh, who fhall let it ? Well 
faith the prophet, '-'■ Thy people fhall be willing in the 
^' day of thy power.'' 

And what mud be the torments of hell ? If fin in the 
confcience is fo painful, and the heart of a convinced trant- 
greflbr is expofed to fuch horror and anguifh under the ap- 
prehenfions of wrath, how miferable mud they be who 
are drinking this cup of the damned ! Is a wounded con- 
fcience lb tormenting in this world, where the gofpel is 
preached, and a mind, pierced with convidion, liable to be 
fo deeply affe6led, as to be juftly the compared with an 
heart wounded by poifoned daggers or fcorpion-ftings, 
how dreadful the avenging hand of the Almiglity in a Rate 
of judicial fuffering ! Far be it, Lord, that any perufmg 
thefe papers, fliould hereafter be numbered with thofe 
wretched ipirits, who are too fadly convinced by what 
they now feel of their eternal mifery, to flatter themfelves 
that they fliall ever efcape I Thus, in the parable of La- 
zarus^ the rich man lifts up his defpairing eyes from the 



126 LECTURES ON 

bottomlefs pit, without hope or defire of being delivered 
from thence : He pleads for the warning of others, after 
being denied the lead drop of water to cool his own tongue, 
but not a word of his releafe from this place of torment ; 
No ; alas, fuch know that they are referved in everlafting 
chains under darknefs unto the judgment of the great day ! 
Fearful ftate, where hope never comes, where juftice 
reigns without mercy, and where no finner has a rational 
ground to enquire, *•'' What muft I do to be faved?" 

From this inftance we may alfo infer the hideous cries 
of unbelievers when Chrift the judge fhall appear. If a 
perfuafion that Jefus is exalted and made Lord of all, oc- 
cafioned thofe who crucified him to cry out as perfons 
undone, how will they wail and lament who finally rejeft 
him, when they fee him, revealed from heaven to take ven- 
geance on thole who obey not the gefpel ! '-' Behold, faith 
♦* John," Rev. i. 7. " he cometh with clouds, andevery eye 
*' iliall fee him, and they alfo which pierced him ; and all 
'' kindreds of the earth fliall wail becaufe of him." Then 
fhall the finally impenitent, who have ftified their convifti- 
ons, and defpifed or negleAed the falvation of God, fee 
and know that Jefus is the judge who is able todeftroy ^ 
they fliall then cry to the mountains and rocks, faying, 
** Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that litteth 
**■ on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,*' alas 
but in vain ! Now the hearts of unbelievers are ftout, they 
refufe to lubmit ; and many of them fct their mouths 
againtt the dignity &nd grace of the glorious Redeemer ; 
they deny the wonderful conftitution of his perfon, blaf- 
pheme his deity, trample under foot his blood of atone- 
ment, and would laugh his difciples to fcorn ; but their 
tongues will then be otherwife employed, when they be- 
hold him coming to judgment : then will they too late, be 
convinced, and cry out of their miiery and ruin in the aw- 
ful manner defcribed by the prophet, "-^ Who among us 
**• (ball dwell with the devouring fire? Who amongft u& 
*•• fluill dwell with everlafting burnings?" Ila. xxxiii. 14. 
Alas 1 alas ! who indeed ! And what {hall they do? The 
queftioD is vaiii ; They arc undone j nothing can be done 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 127 

to prevent their immediate and everlafting de(lrut!:Vion ; 
the trumpet of the gofpel will not then found : No, but 
the trump of God as at Sinai, with thundering and hghten- 
ings,willfummons the workers of iniquity to his awful tri- 
bunal; from whence being openly condemned, they ihallbe 
turned intohell, with that tremendous fentence, *-'' Depart 
"• from me, ye curfed, into everlalting fire prepared for 
" the devil and his angels. Then (hall they call upon 
" him whom they have defpifed, but he will not anfwer ; 
" they (liall feek him early, but (hall not find him," Prov. 
i. i8. Thus, when trouble and anguifh feize the dlfobe- 
dienc, they will cry and call, but alas the Judge, whom 
they have defpifed as a Saviour," will laugh at their cala- 
'*• mity and mock at their fear," ver. 26. If the Reader 
is flighting this Jefus, let him beware left deftrudion 
come upon him as a whirlwind, there will furely be none 
to deliver. 

But is any man afflided and ready to perifh ? How great 
is the mercy to have the word of falvation near to that 
foul ! What muftliave become of thefe men had there been 
none to inftrud them ? But happy for them, that in their 
diftrefs they knew were to flee, and had thofe at hand 
whom the Lord had appointed to Ihew unto men the way 
of falvation. Their bones were broken, and their hearts 
grievoufly fmitten, but a fkilful phyfician is near to bind up 
and comfort. The impenitent and carelefs make light of 
the gofpel, and account it no favor to dwell where the 
faithful fervants of Jefus abide ; but the man who is anxi- 
ous about being faved, will rejoice that the word of the 
Lord and his minifters are nigh : this often proves a means 
of fpeedly relief, as in the cafe of thefe Jews. However, 
iince the pains of a wounded conference are exquifite, and 
are not to be healed, but through faith in the blood of 
Chrift the advantage of being under a gofpel-miniftry, when 
in fpiritual diftrefs, is obvious. Nothing is more precious 
to thofe who enquire afterlife, than the word of the Lord, 
©r more amiable in their eyes than the feet of thofe who 
publith his name. Then prize your happy fituation, who 
dwell in the midft of the churches of Chriit, and conilant- 



iiS L E C T U R E S O N 

ly fit under the found of his gofpel, that you receive not 
this grace in vain. But again, 

Were fo many converted through a divine bleffing on 
the preaching of the apoftles ? ^Vho can forbear though 
it be with relu6lance, the melancholy refle^lion, I mean 
tlie affe^Ving difference between the primitive tiraes and 
thofe in which we live ? Howinfenfible are the generality 
of hearers ? What reafon to be grieved at the prevailing 
hardnef? and unbelief of the multitude ? Where are any 
now crying out, under a fenfe of their guilt, what, Oiall we 
do ? Do not men for the mofl part, hear, as if they had no 
need of a Saviour, or as if preaching was a form, and mi- 
nifters at bed; appointed to entertain with a fong ? Now, 
inftead of many being pierced under one fermon, as in Pe- 
ter's affembly, are not many difcourfes delivered, and, in 
appearance not a fingle heart moved? " Lord, where is 
'' thine arm ? are thy bowels reftrained ? hear our groans, 
*' who labour in thy vineyard, and long after the falvation 
*' of thy chofen ? It is thy work, O Lord of hofts thou 
" knoweft them that are thy people ; through thy power, 
** make the gofpel effectual to fave them ! O let not thy 
*' faithful minifters be afliamed ! Sharpen thine arrows in 
" the hearts of thine enemies, that being pierced through 
^^ the foul, they may look unto Jefus and be healed 1'' 

And now, my dear Reader, art thou altogether unac- 
quainted with the evil of fin and a confciencefmitten with 
guitt? haft thou never faid, at leaft in thine heart, wha% 
muft I do ? Permit me as one who feeks thy felicity : 
Whence is it that thou art fecure and whole, while others 
are broken and wounded? Why fo indifferent about falva- 
tion, when many, restdy to perifli, are with anxiety and 
zeal crying out for direftion how they fhall efcape ? Hafl 
thou no caufe of diftrefs on account of thy fin ? Art thou 
exempted from the wrath of God, or not equally expofed 
to his jufl: indignation m common with other tranfgreflbrs ? 
And cantt thou be eafy ? O thy aftonifhing hardnefs 1 
would to God that this heart of ftone was removed ! Soon, 
very foon v/ill thy confcience open and witnefs againft thee ', 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 1:^9 

tind how wilt thou endure the curfe of the law which thou 
haft broken 1 It will make thee as a fiery oven when judg- 
ment takes place ; unlefs found in Chrift it will burn to 
the loweft hell. Indeed as obferved, the cafe of the Jews 
was peculiar, and for the moft part, the anguifti of an 
awakened finner is in proportion to his guilt. So that th& 
diftrefs of true penitents differ much in point of degree i 
nor is the evidence of a faving change to be meafured by 
the pangs of the fubjed : It is poffible, yea it feems evi- 
dent from experience, that one who falls ihort of the obe- 
dience of faith, may endure fharper and longer convictions 
than, in fome inftances, attend the converiion of another, 
Neverthelefs, every one will fooner or later be ftinged with 
the evil of lin ; and though the convinced are not alike 
grieved, the man who taftes not the bitternefs of death, is 
incapable of applying to the Saviour for life. 

• In a word, may the faithful, for Chrift's fake, and in love 
to precious fouls, ftrive in their prayers for the power of 
the Spirit : Under his divine agency the ftout-hearted are 
reduced to obedience I O that this hand of the Lord, be- 
ing with us, as in the primitive times, numbers believed 
and turned unto him I And if any man is pierced with a 
fenfe of his abounding iniquity, let him know that with 
the Father is mercy, and with him there is plenteous re- 
demption ; for thefe men of Ifrael, who even crucified his 
Son, on a conviction of their folly and danger, cried nut in 
vain, as the following le£lure will (hew. 



LECTURE 



1.30 L E C T U R E 3 O In 



LECTURE XII. 



The nature of evangelical repentance* What it is to be 
baptized in the name ofjefus for the remifloncffns >* 
and in what refpeSlthe Holy Ghost is given to them that 
believe^ 



WE are now come to the counfel of God by his in- 
fpired minifter unto the enquiring Jews, whereirt 
the riches of his grace is opened for the reUef of a fenfible 
finner. The Lord refpe6leth not any man's perfon : It 
is therefore a ftandin^ direction to every one, who, in like 
manner, is convineed of his evil and danger, and would 
efcape the vengeance of heaven. This feafonably reply 
is recited in Afts* ii. 38. and runs in thefe words: 
*' Then Peter faid unto them. Repent and be baptized, 
*' every one of you, in the name of Jefus Chrift, for the 
"• remiffion of fins, and ye fliall receive the gift of the 
" Holy Ghoft/' A kind and falutary anfwcr, in which we 
are to mark the apoftle's direction, and the motive on which 
he would engage thefe mourning tranfgreflbrs to obe- 
dience. 

His di region is twofold ; to repent, and to be baptiz- 
ed. The common notion of repentance is forrow for fm : 
and there is reafon to apprehend that fome deceive them- 
felves'by refting in a fuperficial tranfitory convi6lion ; 
which, however grievous, falls fhort of the genuine for- 
row of a contrite heart, which alone is acceptable to 
God. No doubt repentance includes a conviction yea a 
painful convidion of fin; and it muft be allowed, that, 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 131 

confcious of guilt, a man is afliamed and afflicted. But, 
properly fpeaking, repentance is a change, the lubje£l of 
which, is not only filled with a fenfe of his error, and 
grieved for his folly, but alfo is bent againft the evil that 
hath enfiaved him, rcfolved to flee from it and amend. 
So that according to the nature and degree of real repent- 
ance, a reformation enfues. The conlcience of fome 
abandoned tranfgrelTors, or hypocrites, may be incapable 
of feeling, as the fleili of a man when feared with a hot 
iron, I Tim. iv. 2. Yet few are totally ignorant of re^ 
mprfe, fmners for the mofl; part have at times an affliding 
fenfe of their guilt; yea, and in fomeinftances very fliarp 
conviftions may pierce the heart, and produce ftrong 
cries and tears, refolutions and promifes of amendment \ 
at the faiue time, as it afterwards appears, the man is un« 
^cny.aintea with godly forroW, and repentance unto life. 

I Evangelical repentance is the gift of God by Jefus 
Chrift : It flows from a principle of divine life in the foul 
of him that is born of the S'pirit: of which the convinced 
finner alone is a capable fubje6l. In the exercife of this 
grace a man beholds the evil of fin, is aftetfled with its 
turpitude, and abhors it ; find, being deeply fenfible of his 
own vilenefs, abafeth hiinfeif before God with an open 
confeffion, in profpe6t of pardoning mercy. This repent- 
ance admits of no allowed lin, and is ever accompanied 
with a purfuit after holinefs, and a converfation becoming 
the gofpel. One infallible criterion of genuine repentance 
is faith, i. e. actively confidered ; for though repentance 
and faith may be diftinguiflied, they are radically the fame, 
being the exercife of a renewed foul under the foljiuence 
of divine grace, with a view to falvation. Faith, in its 
prime a<^, is truly exprefled by an excellent writer'*, to, 
be the flight of a penitent finner to Chrift for falvation. 
Certainly the repentance defcribed, which is of a fpi- 
ritual and laving nature, is not without faith, whereby 
the lubjed hath a difcernment of fpiritual things : And 
the fird efled of being thus truly .penitent, in the 

■* Owen, on juflification, page 99, 



132 L E C T U R E S O N 

views of that free remiffion preached in the name of 
Jefus, is obedience to the gofpel. A fmcere penitent 
fays hold of the promife, and flees for refuge to Chrift. 
Thus repentance, under the call of the gofpel, is com- 
pleated by the obedience of faith. The penitent man 
comes to Jefus confefling his guilt and pollution ; he hearti- 
ly renounces all merit inhimfelf, and believing the promife, 
refts on the Redeemer as the only and omnipotent Savi- 
our, So then, to repent, to be converted, and to believe 
in the Lord Jefus Chrift, are fynonymous phrafes, at leaft 
the repentance Peter intends, and which is the fubje£b of 
a gofpel-miniftry, iflues in nothing ftiort of truft in Chrift, 
or a turning to him as the ftrong-hold and hope of them 
who are ready to perifli : And accordingly we find, 
Mark i. 15. the difciples were fent forth to preach, faying, 
** Repent ye and believe the gofpel.'' It is repentance 
from infidelity and rebellion againft God, as h^e is revealed 
in his word, which is accompanied with faith and holy 
obedience, according to the ufeof the expreifion in Luke 
xvi. 30. where the rich man isfpeaking to Abraham con- 
cerning his furviving brethren, who like himfclf lived in 
infidelity and fin, faying, " But if one went unto them frorq 
*' the dead, they will repent ;'' i. e. of their unbelief, as 
appears from the fcope of the place. In like manner evan- 
gelical repentance is nothing ihort of believing and turn- 
ing to the Lord. 

This idea of repentance in the text is confirmed by the 
circumftances of the obje<^s addreffed : they were deeply 
convinced of their guilt, and in the utrooft diftrefs. A 
true penitent indeed hath an habitual fenfe of the evil and 
bitternefs of fm ; it is exceeding fmful in his eyes, and 
dreadful in its efFe<fts under the curfe of a broken law, and 
ftill more heinous in the light of the gofpel ; but where 
is the propriety of exhorting perfons to mourn over fm, 
whofe hearts were already overwhelmed under a fenfe of 
their great iniquity, and with the fears of vengeance to 
come ? Nor can repentance here fignify a change of mind 
or opinion concerning Jefus, and in confequence an altera- 
tion in their condu^l, fo as no longer to oppofe him as an 
impofter, under which pretence they had taken away his 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 133 

life, fmce a conviction of his divine authority was a prin- 
cipal occafion of their diitrefs and confurion ; nor doth 
the apoftle offer a word more in vindication of his clja- 
radler, or to prove him the Meiliah. In (hort, thefe men 
flood in no need of being called upon to be forry for fin, 
or to be perfuaded that Jelus was the Chrift ; they were 
deeply wounded under a lenfe of their tranigrc flions and 
fully convinced of his miffion from heaven, but this they 
needed, namely, a perfotial application to, and reliance 
upon him as the Lord's Chrift, without which no man's 
forrow for fin, or opinion of Jefus will fave him ; and for 
this thefe felf-conderaned fmners were prepared on due 
encouragement, as appears on the iffue : but, at prefent 
being ignorant of the extent and riches of his grace, they 
feem fearful of being excluded the hope of the gofpel, and 
at their wits-end ; and accordingly the apoftle fends them 
to Jefus for pardon and life, with a joyful aftlirance of mer- 
cy, and he urges it upon them as needful to an efcape 
from the wrath they deferved. This fenfe of repentance 
in the text correfponds not only with the circumftances of 
the perfons addrefled, butlikevvife with the motives ufed 
by the apoftle, and the dire£lion he gives them ; for no 
repentance (hort of faith in Chrift, ftands conneded with 
remiftion of fins, or entitles the fubjeft to baptifm ; and, 
though there is reafon to apprehend that, in the primitive 
times, fome were partakers of the Holy Ghoft, in his ex- 
traordinary gifts, who neverthelefs were dcftitute of fav- 
ing faith,-" yet a profeflion of this faith was requiiite to a 
viiible claim in the promife, " Thefe ligns (liall follow 
f' them that believe,'' Mark xvi. 17. Nor did John, the 
forerunner of our Lord, in the courfe of his minift.ry, ad- 
mit any to baptifm for the remiftion of fins, without a con- 
feftlon of their belief in him that fliould come after him, 
whom he declared would baptize his dlfciples with the 
Holy Ghoft, Matt. iii. ii. compared with A£is xix. 4. 
And that a divine faith or holy truft in Chrift is contained 
in that repentance "unto which the apoftles exhorted their 
hearers, is evident from other paflages offcripture. Thus, 
}:^eter fays, " Repent ye therefore and be converted, that 
yoar fins may be blotted out.'' Acls iii. 9. And again. 



134 LECTURES ON 

chap, vili, 37. When the eunuch propofed himfelf to 
Philip for baptifm, he rephes, '' If thou beheveft with all 
" thine heart, thou mayeft.'' And further, chap. xvi. 30, 
31, on the jailor's apphcation to Paul and Silas under the 
like diftrefs, faying, " What (hall I do to be faved ?" their 
anfwer is the lame, *' Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift.'' 
Upon th-e whole, it appears that nothing lefs than a cordial 
faith is required in baptifai with hope of remillion, and 
that therefore this faith is included in that repentance the 
apoftle intends ; in the exercife of which the Jews are 
directed to be baptized in the name of Jefus. 

I have been thus particular in fetthng what I apprehend 
the jutl idea of the expreffion repent^ as it throws a light 
on many exhortations in the New-Tellament, and is raor? 
eipecjally needful to a right underilanding and improve- 
ment of the paffage before us. Peter is plainly directing 
thefe awakened tranfgreflbrs, who were anxious to know 
what they (hould do, notwithftanding their aggravated 
guilt, to believe on Jefus and fubmit then\ielves to him, 
and publicly own their dependence upon him as Lord and 
Chrift. To repent, therefore, muft carry in it faith in 
the Redeemer; and this exhortation feparate from the 
encouragements expreftly fubjoined, was adapted to re- 
lieve thefe diflreffed ibuls from the tormenting fears of 
being abfolutely excluded from the grace of God in his 
Son; and is a noble inftance of the fkill and faithfulnefs of 
the preacher, and alfo (hews that the minifters of Chrift 
are warranted to encourage every fenfible (inner. 

Nor is it fupj>ofed in this exhortation, thus underftood, 
that thefe Jews, or any other under the likecircumftanceS, 
are able in and of themfelves to believe in jefus j this di- 
rection and encouragement is given to them only who are 
called, ver. 39. ''to as many as the Lord our God Ihall 
*' call." By this the apoftle fufficiently guards againft any 
imdue afcription of power in the creature, and leads our 
thouglits to the energy of the Spirit, in quickening grace, 
as needful unto faying repentance or faith. An heart 01 



MmmisA 



i>RIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 135 

ability fo to repent is undoubtedly the free gift af God, 
djfpenfed from the King of grace, wrought in the fubject 
by the power of the Holy Ghoft, under whofe divine agen- 
cy alone this and every other fpiritual adl is exerted ; all 
which is clearly fliewn in different parts of the facred writ- 
ings ; thus it is declared, "God hath exalted Jefus to give 
*^ repentance and remiffion of fins," AS.s v. 3 1. And again, 
" Then hath God alfo granted to the Gentiles repentance 
*■' unto life," chap. xi. 18. "And we know that it is God 
"■ which worketh, in his called ones, both to will and to 
'* do of his good pleafure," Phil. ii. 13. Hence they re- 
pent and believe : It is therefore no other than cavil, in 
oppofition to the exprefs counfel of God, to argue from fuch 
likeexhortations to the power of man without fpecial grace 
to repent and turn unto the Lord. Mdft certainly " no 
" man can come to Chrift^ except the Father which fent 
*-'• him draw him," John vi, 44. Yet awakened finners are 
to be directed and exhorted to repent, and to fubmit them* 
felves to Jefus for the remiffion of lins ; and the moral end* 
of fuch exhortations are obvious to any unprejudiced per- 
fon ; they are to convince men of the neceflity there is ''^ 
for repentance unto life, and a means, in the hand of the 
Spirit, to lead, encourage, and animate periQiing fmners 
to believe and be faved. And this anfwer may fufEce to 
fiiewthe perverfenefs of them who will reprefent this me- 
thod, in a gofpel-miniftry, as inconfiltent with the impo- 
tency of man, or the goodnefs of God, fince it is evident 
that thefe exhortations are adapted to excite convinced 
tranfgreflbrs to repentance and faith, and the Almighty 
is- pleafed to reader them effectual thereunto in the hearts 
of his chol^n : therefore no man need fcruple to follow 
the example before us, in the courff". of his miniftrv, when 
fmners enquire, what (hall we do ? But freely and earne illy 
recommend tiiem, even every one, to repent and believe 
on the Lord Jefus Chrill; nor Ihouldany be offended at 
this, fmce it is manifeilly rational, all things confider- 
edy and a means owned of God for the I'aivation of 
men. 



136 LECTURES ON 

To repentance the apoftle enjoins fiibmiflion to baptlfm ; 
" And, fays he, be baptized every one of you in the name 
" of Jefus Chrift for the remiflion of fins.*' I fliall not en- 
large on the form of this divine inftitution, which I am 
forry to fav, like fome other appointments of the Redeem • 
er, is more known than pra£lifed; but the defign I am 
upon, and the exhortation of Peter, will not permit me 
to be totally filent on an article elfential to primitive 
worfhip. Nothing is more my averfion than the fcorn 
and anger, which is but too often feen in debating this 
point. It may be pleafmgto the flelh, but this is not by 
manifeilation of the truth, commending ourfelves to every 
man's confcience in the fight of God ; it is unfeemly and 
vain. I would therefore in meekncfs and fobriety, with a 
cordial elleem for thofe brethren who are otherwife mind- 
ed, ufe a becoming freedom on the fubje<£l, on which it 
may be difficult to offer any thing which has not for fub- 
ftance been urged, or at leaft hinted already by others. 

It is notorious that a change in the mode of this gof- 
pel-ordinance, from dipping to fprinkling, hath obtained ; 
and in thefe and fome other parts of the world, called 
chriftian, become almoft general ; neverthelefs they are 
plainly quite different, and cannot be made one and the 
fame, or fpoken of as fuch without a violation of language 
and fenfe. Sprinkling was a rite of purification under 
the law, but manifeftly and ever diftin6t from that of bath- 
ing or immerfion, which was alfo appointed, Numb, xix. 
13, 19. compared. To confound thefe different modes, 
or to ufe the one inflead of the other, feems highly unrea- 
fonable, and not to be juftified j and indeed, with be- 
coming refpeft to thofe who can ufe this liberty, I take 
leave to fay, that, in my opinion, to call sprinkling baptismy 
is truly no better. To baptize, is to wafli the fubjed by 
bathing or dippings and not to wet a part only by asperfi- 
on or sprinkling. Nor let the reader think that our 
pradlice of dipping is confined to a few, becaufe it is by 
many neglected or defpifed in this ifland, and fome other 
countries j not to infilf on the thoufands who confci- 
eutioufly adhere to this mode in our own native country. 



PRIMltlVE CHRISTIANITY. 137 

and efpecially in our American colonies. Dr. Wall, a 
aealous and learned writer in favor of infant-baptifm, ob- 
ferves, Part II. page 309. ift edit. " All chriftians in the 
" world, who never owned the pope's ufurped power, do 
*' and ever did dip their infants in the ordinary ufe." And 
he adds, "If we take the divifion of the world from the 
S'- three main parts of it, all the chridians in Afia, all in 
" Africa, and about one third part of Europe, underftand 
'* by baptifm i^nmersion^ and fo pra^life." Every at- 
tempt to deilroy or remove this native and genuine idea 
of baptifm is vain ; and I may venture to fay, that it will 
never be in the power of man to fhew that baptizing is not 
dipping, or that this was not the mode in which the apof- 
tles and tirft minifters performed this chriftian ordinance, 
Baptifm is fliled the counfel of God ; a religious rite fet 
up with divine authority, firft by John the forerunner of our 
Lord, whofe million from heaven was clear. Hence when 
Chrift put the quetlion to the elders concerning his bap- 
tifm, they feared to fay it was of men. The Jews were 
ilartled when they faw him baptize and demand his au- 
thority, ** Why baptizeft thou, if thou be not Chrift nor 
" Elias?" John i. 15. From whence I am convinced, the 
notion fome propagate concerning the Jewiih cuftom to 
baptize profelytes is without any foundation. And it 
feems unworthy our divine Law-giver, to fuppofe that a 
main inftitution of his kingdom is borrowed from a fu- 
perftitious cuftom of the Jews, which muft be the cafe if 
it really was in practice, feeing it is piafti that Mofes 
never enjoined it, but it feemed a new thing to the Jews. 
However, that this harbinger of the Mefiiah baptized by 
immerfion is evident by the name he acquired from his 
padice, viz. John the Baptift or Dipper, Baptizing 
and diping is fo clearly the fame, that it would have been 
impertinent, efpecially in a country where it was daily in 
ufe, to have attempted a defcription of the manner in 
which it was performed ; and had no prejudice taken 
place in favor of a contrary practice, the circumftances 
related of our Lord's baptifm would fuffice to fatisfy eve- 
ry ferious enquirer. We are told, that " when he was 

S 



13$ L E C T U R E S O N 

" baptized he: went up ftraightway out of the water.*' 
Dr. Whitby, and other eminent authors, who plead for 
the baptizing of infants, notice the juft obfervation of th« 
Greek church on the paffage, which is this, namely, " that 
'* he, who afcended out of the water, muft firft defcend 
'< down into it." And it is remarkable that the infpired 
apoftle ufes the fame argument in reference to the afcen- 
fion of Chritt, which prefuppofes his refurredion from the 
dead, fliadowed forth in baptifm by immerfion, Eph. iv. pr 
** Now that he," i. e. Ghrift, " afcended, what is it but 
" that he alfo defcended firft into the lower parts of the 
*' earth V i. e, died and was buried ; and the inference 
is too natural not to be difcerned by the plaineft capacity : 
But, adds the Do6lor, "Baptifm, therefore, is not to be 
'' performed by fprinkling, but by wafliing the body j'' and 
flill further, fays he, " Indeed it can only be ignorance of 
" the Jewidi rites in baptifm, that this is queftioned.'' His 
tetlimony I hope will not be altogether diiVegardad. 

On a fuppofition that the apoftles, who wrote the New 
Teftament,ufed the terms of the ieptuagint, which ie gene- 
rally allowed, and feems clearly the cafe, it is fjibmitted 
to the learned of the psedobaptiils themfeives, "j^ Whether 
** it was pofhble for them to fix on two wor(|8 in all that 
'•• Greek tranfiation that can more precifely determine 
'* this particular manner of waQiing the body by immer- 
*' fion, diftind tV'^m all other purifications, than thofe they 
*' have actually chofen,"j' and the fame mode of baptifm is 



* Letters to a Right Rev. Author, Bac. Part I. Letter IV. page 19 r 

I Dr. Gale hath abundantly Ihewn from the critics, and alfo from the 
Grecian poets and hiftorians, that the Greek Avords above alluded to, al- 
wa.ys fignifies to dip, which every one who is capable ftiay confult with 
advantage, befides, as that learned writer juftly obferves,if the exprefli- 
on was otherwife ever fo ambiguous, yet, as it relates to baptifm, the 
do6lririe and practice of John and the apoftles fufficiently determine the 
fenfe unto dipping. Gale an baptifm, Letters III, IV and V. And frbn^ 
the fame letters it appears that Mr. Wall himfelf, who is the hiftoriair 
they refer to, intimates that the clergy would gladly revive the ancient 
prafflice; and defired, according to the direction of the rubric, to baptize 
by dipping -dl that are willing to rftceive it in that manner, and-are abk^ 



PRIMITlVIi:. CHRISTIANITY. 139 

confirmed by every inftance; and particularly the place 
chofen for the adminiflration of this divine ordinance ; nor 
doth any other manner of wafiiing agree with the manifeft 
reference we have therein unto the burial and reiurre<£lian 
of our Saviour, and to that of the fubjeAs being raifed from 
the death of fin to walk in newnefs of life, fo clearly point- 
ed out in Rom. vi. and Col. ii. This aifo correfponds 
with every ailufion in fcripture to baptifm, and the gens- 
ral conceffion o^ teftimony of the moll reputable advocates 
for baptizing of infants, iince the pra£lice exifted, which 
is in favor of dipping. Among thefe, which are a muhi- 
tude, the known wiih of the above learned author, in liis 
note on Rom. vi. 4. is much to the purpofe, *' Immerfion," 
lays he, " was religioully obferved by all chriftians for^ 
" thirteen centuries." And he laments the change of 
it into fprinkling without any allowance from the author 
of this inllitution, or any licence from any councilof the 
church ; of which the reader will fee more at large in 
confulting his paraphrafe. And truly the'cuftom of afper- 
fion, however prevailing at prefent, is comparatively mo- 
dern in England, and is even now only permitted by the 
governors of the national church, as appears in their li- 
turgy. Some fpeak of the fuppofed danger of dipping in 
thefe cold climutes, and think this may be a very good 
reafon for changing the form of baptifm to fprinkling, but 
fexperience proves the fafety of dipping, and this mode 19 
ftiH ufed in countries many degrees colder than ours ; 
witnefs the Ruiiias, and even Mufcovia itfelf, in fome parts, 
of which it is extremely fevere ; nor hath it in any in* 
ftance appeared injurious to dip the body, even of infants 
the moll tender, in water. But admitting there feems 
a danger in dipping a weakly, conftitution, or in a very 
cold feafon, Qiall we not trail the Lord in the way of our 
duty? Shall we reafon from thence in oppofition to the 



to bear It ; and I prefume, that notwithftanding the continuance of fprink- 
ling in the national church, with fcarce any exception for half a century 
more, muft rather have increafed the popular prejudice in favor of the 
practice, there axe ftill not a few of that. communion who are fufficientlv 
convinced to wilh a return to the good old way. 



I40 L E C T U R E S O N 

wifdom of God, unto a negle6l of his fovereign and gracU 
ous appointment ? Or will this juftify a change in the 
mode of a divine ordinance ? It is a truth that hath been 
frequently urged, that "on a mere pofitive inftitution we 
'♦' cannot argue as in masters of natural or moral duty.*' 
It therefore becomes us to obey with humility and rev- 
erence, and confcientioufly adhere in our practice to every 
eircumftance prefcribed in the word. This method of 
reafoning therefore is not to be defended, nor fhould any 
prefume to a6l thereupon contrary to the exprefs will df 
the Lord whom we ferve. Upon the whole, it is truly 
aftonifliing, and an afFe<5ling inilance of human weaknefs, 
that in a country where the cuftom univerfally prevailed 
ib many centuries, and where the practice ftill' (lands ex- 
prefly dire£led in the pubhc inftrument of the national 
chutch, that this form of baptifm fliould be counted ftrange, 
novel or indecent. Is it not ftrange, that, under thele 
circumftancjes, a people who cannot but perform this ap- 
pointment of the Saviour by dipping, lliould, for that rea- 
fon only, be derided or cenfured ? Alas, how fickle man- 
kind! To what amazing prejudices are we expoi'ed: Thut 
the general and ordinary way was to baptize by immerfi*- 
on or dipping the fubje^l " into the water, is fo plain and 
" clear, faith Dr. Waljj^, by an infinite number of paf« 
*' fages, that one cannot but pity the weak endeavours of 
*' fuch psedobaptifts who would maintain the negative.*' 
And I am periuaded that moft, who do not think it abfo- 
lutely necefi'ary to the eflbnce of baptifm, and therefore 
remain in the popular way, will, on ferious refleiSlion, 
with that learned writer, difown and ihew a diflike of the 
profane feoffs which fome people give to the Englilh an- 
tipaedobaptif^s merely for their ufe of dipping ; and cer- 
tain I am, that if any are otherwife minded, their zeal 
againft this ancient mode of baptizing is not duly tempered 
with knowledge and charity. 

Now this baptifm is to be performed in the name of Je-r 
fus Chrift. 1 he commiflion of our Lord to his difciples i§ 

• Vd. II. 3d edit. p. 351. 



TRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 141 

plain and exprefs, Matt, xxiii. 19. " Go ye, therefore, 
** teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa- 
" ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoil.'' Nor are 
thefe words of Peter, '^ in the nameof Jefus/'to beother- 
"wife taken than confifts with this order of the Saviour, 
No doubt this form is facred in the ordinance of baptifm ; 
for fo, as hinted already, is every article prefcribed in a po- 
fitive inftitution, which entirely depends on tlie fovereign 
will of the law-giver. It has been fuggefted, that the 
Jews, being already believers in the Father and the Holy 
Ghoft, had need only of being baptized in the name of Je- 
ius ; but there is not the leaft intimation in fcripture of 
this difference in the baptizing of Jews from that of the 
Gentiles, nor is the name of either divine Perfon to be 
omitted in the adminiflration of this ordinance, feeing that 
would come (hort of the exprefs direiSlon of our Lord. 
Neverthelefs chriilian baptifm may well be defcribed in 
the name of Jefus, as here and elfewere, chap, viii. 16. 
X. 48. xix. 5. Since the authority of Jefus is the ground 
of proceeding, and the fubjed not only confefles his faith 
in, and adores Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, the 
Three that bear record in heaven, but likewife in an ef- 
pecial manner confcfieth Chrift as his king and fubmits to 
him as the Son of God and Lord of all, Baptilm is an ai\ 
of folemn worfliip and perfonal devotion to the Redeemer, 
in which the parties own his authority, and furrender un- 
to the Lord as his God. Ilance it is ftiled " calling on 
*^ the name of the Lord," A<^ls. xxii. 16. A phrafe 
which indeed includes prayer after the example of Jeius 
himfelf, of whom we read, Luke iii. 21. " that being bap- 
*' tized and praying, the heaven was opened." But it iike- 
wife extends to the whole obedience of faith, Rom. x. 13, 
14. where the apoftle refers to the fame prophefy c^uoted 
in Peter's difcourfe, ver. 31. " And whofoever ihall call 
^•^ upon the name of the Lord, ihall be faved." He that 
fubmits to this ordinance with underllanding, is baptized 
in the name of Jefus, calling upon his name in the prayer 
pf faith, and adlually owns and fubmits to the authority of 
f^hrill, who will lave him. 



1421 L E C T U R E S O N 

It is added, '' for the remldion of fins ;'' which fhew$ 
what troubled the heart of thefe awakened tratifgreflbrs ; 
it was guilt, their fms were fet in order before them, a 
fenfe of which pierced them. But will water-baptifm 
cleanfe us from fin ? No, no more than the tears of the 
penitent. Nothing is the meritorious caufe of pardon but 
the atonement of the Saviour : His blood alone, applied to 
the wounded confcience, can heal it. Thus Peter de- 
clares, " Through his name, whofoever believeth in him, 
*' lliail receive remiffion of fins," A<^s x. 43. And again 
it is written, " Whom God hath fet forth a propitiation, 
*' through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs 
" in the remiffion of fins,'' Rom, iii. 25. And further, 
*' In whom we have redemption through his blood, the 
" forgivenfs of fins, according to the riches of his grace," 
Eph. i. 7. Thus the fcriptures abundantly (hew, that 
not baptifm, but the blood of Jefus, in whofe name we 
are baptized, is that which cleanfeth from fin. This man- 
ner of fpeaking, " be baptized for the remiffion of fms,'' 
is by way of encouragement and direction to thefe afflided 
enquiring fouls, and iliews that there was remiffion even 
for them, and that they fliould fubmit to baptifm in the 
exercife of faith on Chrift, who, by the facrifice of him- 
felf, obtained eternal redemption, and whofe fufferings, 
death and refurredtion, are fliadowed forth in the appoint- 
ed form of this gofpel inftitution. In a word, the exhor- 
tation is univerial and without any exception, '-*• every 
'^ one of you ;'' to ihew that not one perfon, among the 
thoufands who were pricked in the heart, and who flood 
in need of pardon, was excluded from the hope of God's 
mercy in Chriil : and that likewife not a fingie believer, 
who laid hold of this mercy, was excluded from a profeff- 
ed fubjeftion to the gofpel, or public acknowledgment of 
his divine authority, and devotion to his will in the fight 
of mankind. 

To this obedience of faith the apoflle annexeth a pro- 
mile, "• and ye (hall receive the gift of the Holy Ghoft ;•' 
not in his quickening or regenerating influences, whereby 
the fubje£l is truly convinced of fin, and engaged to believe 



PRIMITBVE CHRISTIANITY. 143 

on^ke Lord Jefus Ghrift. A participation oF his grace i»- 
thisn"eirpe£t is previouily required to baptifm. 'rhus, as 
before, Philip faith to the eunuch, *' If thou believ^jft with 
" all thine heart, thou mayeft." This promife may be 
underltood in a fenie peculiar to the primitive times, or 
accommodated to the hope of every baptized believer in 
all- ages and places to the end of the world. It may refer 
to t4ie extraordinary gifts which the Holy Ghoft "diilri- 
buted among the apoftles, who had a.lfo, by him, a power of 
conveying the fame to others, by which the gofpei was 
then confirmed among thedifciples ; many of whom were 
enabled to fpeik with tongues, and to perform great things 
m teftiinony of the refurredion of Jefus, and for the editi- 
cation of his church, A£ts xix. Many, 1 fay, for we are 
not to fuppofe that every one who was baptized was thus 
miraculoully endowed, but only fome, as circumilances re- 
quired. Thus Cornelius and others received the Holy 
Gholl at Cefarea, A£ls x. 47. In this view it is an aifur- 
nee of their being confirmed by further inllances of his 
wonderful operations which came to pafs, when, as we 
are told, " Many wonders and figns were done by tlite 
'^ apoiiles," A£ls i. 43. and likewife that many of them- 
felves ihould partake of his exti'aordinary gifts for the 
fpread of the gofpei. Hence we read, chap. viii. 4. thaC 
a perfecution being raifed at Jerufalem, by which the dif- 
cipies in general were difperfed, " they were fcattered 
^' abroad went every where preaching the word." So that 
the wife was taken in his own craftinefs, and the malice 
of Satan overruled to the increafe of the kingdom of God, 
which that enemy fought to deitroy. Neverthelefs, if be- 
lievers now have any intereft in this promife, it is not to 
be confined to thefe extraordinary gifts. The promife is 
given to every one : And I cannot help thinking that Pe- 
ter includes, if not chiefly intends, thofe operations of the 
Holy Ghoii:, whereby the faithful are more abundantly 
enlightened, fanftified and confirmed even that working 
of the Holy Spirit, by which the chrillian is feaied to the 
day of redemption, and made meet for communion with 
God and his glorious inheritance, compare 2 Cor. v. 5. 
Eph. i. 13, 18. and chap. iv. 30. Certain it is that the 



144 LECTURES ON 

Comforter, as a Spirit of adoption and a witnefling Spirit 
is more or lefs given to them that obey the gofpel, and 
that, in waiting on the Lord in his appointments, believers 
may expe6l to be eftablifhed with grace, and to increafe in 
the knowledge of him unto a meetnefs for glory. 

Thus Peter excites thefe awakened tranfgrefTors to 
evangelical repentance, which includes faith in the Lord 
Jefus Chrift, and to witnefs the fame by being openly 
baptized in his name, in a certain profpeft of full remiffion 
of fins ; yea though they had wickedly flain the Redeemer, 
he aflures them notwithftanding, that on confeffion they 
ihould be fealed with the Holy Spirit of promife. Joyful 
tidings, which, through a divine energy, became life from 
the'dead, and healed the wounds that had otherwife prov- 
ed mortal. When they heard this, they gladly received 
the word, and delayed not to yield themfelves to the 
Lord. In like manner the gofpel is fenttobind up every 
broken heart, and to comfort every fmner who mourns. 
And therefore, dear Reader, if thine heart is v/ounded 
receive the confolation, for a reconciled God is no re- 
fpe£ler of perfons. 



LECTURE 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 145 



LECTURE XIII. 



^be promise on lubich Peter raises the expeSiation of the 
awakened Jews^ upon their obeying the gospel^ briefly 
and fairly examined. With notes and refeSlions on the 
<v)boh of their reply to their anxious question* 



TH E apoftle having encouraged the men of Judea, 
fmful as they were, with a certain profpe6l of re- 
milfion on repentance, and having afFerted that, on being 
baptized in the name of Jefus, they ihould receive the 
Holy Ghoft, proceeds to the ground of this bleffed affur- 
ance. And his argument is this : " For the promife is 
** unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar 
" off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call." The 
promife is remiffion of fins, and the gift of the Holy Ghoft 
unto them who repent and are baptized in the name of 
the Lord ; and the paflage would be eafily underftood, 
had there been no difpute among the chriftians concerning 
the fubje£l of baptifm. But fince Ibme who plead for the 
baptizing of infants, have prefled this text into their fer- 
vice, it is needful to clear up the fenfe, and to confider 
whether it affords any foundation for that pradice, which 
I fliall attempt with candor in a very few words. In 
general, the promife is limited to them that are called. 
The word rendered children is not frequently, if at all, 
ufed for infants ; and a right to baptifm, as hinted already, 
is not the thing promifed. 

One might have thought that the laiT: claufe in this 
verfe would have effe£lually fecured it from being applied 

T 



146 LECTURES ON 

in favor of infant-baptifrn, fince while it extends its com- 
fort to all that'^^called, it limits the obje^ls of the promife 
to them. Now this call muft be either the external call 
in the miniftry of the word, or that which is internal and 
efficacious unto repentance and faith. If we underftand^ 
of it the former, what infants are capable of that ? Can 
babes and fucklings, in a natural fenfe, hear and underftand 
the word of the gofpel ? Or are the minifters of Chrift 
fent to preach unto them ? No fober advocate for their 
being baptized will anfwer in the affirmative. An unpre- 
judiced Reader will therefore eafily admit, that the call 
here intended is that which is efFe(^ual unto repentance, 
a teftimony of which is given in baptifm. This call is of 
God by Jefus, and wrought through the power of the 
Holy Ghofl in the hearts of the regenerate, and confc- 
quently peculiar to them who are born of the Spirit. Far 
be it to infinuate, that infants are incapable of the fanfti- 
fying operations of the Spirit, but how or when the al- 
mighty King of grace worketh in any fuch, according to 
the council of his will, is a fecret to us ; but we are fpeak- 
ing of what is revealed, and the rule of our duty in the- 
adminiftration of a divine ordinance, and we may, and muft 
with freedom affert, that infants neither are nor can be 
the vilible fubjeds of this divine work, bat the promife* 
whether of the Holy Ghoft, or the remiffion of fins, or of 
falvation, verfe 21. which feems rather intended, is cer- 
tainly limited to thofe who are called of God, and to their 
children as fuch ; and accordingly the learned Dr. Whitby 
himfelf, whofe regard for infant- baptifm is not to be 
queltioned, exprefsly and juftly declares, that thefe words 
will not prove a right of infants to this gofpel-inlutution. 
See his annotations on the place. 

But that none Ihould be milled, or carried away by the 
found of the word children in this paffage, it may be pro- 
per to note, that the Greek word here ufed is not that 
whereby young children or infants, when diftinguiflied from 
men and women, are expreffed ; for inflance, that which 
is ufed in defcribing thofe wlio were miraculoufly fed, 
Matt, xiv* 3 1, and ehap. xv. 38. from which the term pae- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 147 

dobaptift is derived ; but is quite another word, and 
which fignifieth pofterity rather than little children or 
infants. This is fo obvious, that Dr. Hammond *, another 
zealous advocate for infant-baptifm, hath thefe remarka.. 
ble words on the place : " If any hath made ufe of that very 
*' uncludent argument (fo he ftiles it) " the promife is 
*' made to you and your children," I have nothing to fay 
" in defence of them ; I think the word children there 
" is really the pofterity of the Jews." So then, in the opi- 
nion of this learned psedobaptift, no good argument can be 
drawn from this paitage to the right of the infant-feed of 
believers unto chriftian baptifm ; and indeed it is ftrange 
that wife and good men fliould inlinuate the notion, much 
more that they llitould, in any degree reft the validity of 
infant-baptifm on an expreflion that is well known to have 
no refpe£l to the infantile ftate. Befides, the promife 
as hinted, has no relation to baptifm. Peter exhorts be- 
lievers to be baptized, as incumbent on as many as the 
Lord fliall call, upon which they are entitled to claim the 
pro nife, and encouraged to look for its accompliftiment in 
their own experience, to their fatisfadion andjoy ; of which, 
by the way, infants are incapable ; nor can the baptizing 
of infants be inferred with any colour of r'eafon from this 
declaration of the apoftle. 

• The propriety of Peter's expreffing himfelf iri this man^ 
ner will appear, if we confider that the Jews were " the 
^' children of the prophets, and of the covenant God made 
*' with their fathers, faying to Abraham, And in thy feed 
^' fliall all the kindreds of the earth be bleiled," A£ls iii. 
25. To them belonged the promifes, Rom. ix. 4, It 
was their peculiar honor and advantage to have the pro- 
mife of the Meiliah, and of the bleffings of life and grace, 
which come on the called through faith in his blood. — 
Hence the gofpel was firft preached to them : " Unto you 
", firft, God having raifed up his Son Jefus, fent him to 
'' blefs you, in turning away every one of you from his 
^' iniquities," Ails iii. 26. And in chap, xiii. 47* we 

- read it was neceifary that the word of God (houid firft be 

* Refol. 6. 24. Edit. Umo. p. 156. 



148 LECTURES ON 

fpoken to them. Indeed the promifes afcertained the par- • 
don of no one while in a ftate of unbeHef ; nor was an 
Ifraelite, who firft enjoyed the means of grace, better 
entitled to claim re million on repentance, than the Gen- 
tiles who were originally void of the privilege ; but it is ea- 
fy to fee the propriety and force of the apoftle's argument 
with thefe awakened Jews, who were now convinced that 
falvation was in no other than in that fame Jefus whom 
they had crucified. The promife being unto them and 
to their children,* even to as many as the Lord their 
God (hall call, muft needs encourage their hope as partak- 
ers of this calling, notwithftanding their aggravated guilt, 
fmce it ihewed there was mercy even for them, nor 
could they defpair under fuch a perfuafion. How feafon- 
able and juft was this reafoning of the apoftle with the 
people who had not only murdered the Prince of life, but 
hadiikewife imprecated his blood on themfelves and on 
their children, and thereby, as far as in their power, bound 
their blood-guiltinefs on their lateft pofterity 1 O the tor- 
menting diftrefs that muft attend a conviction of having 
deftroyed both ^themfelves and their children. Dreadful 
will be the cafe of parents who fliall hereafter, as fome 
through a negle£t of their fouls or their ill example, be 
found acceifary to the damnation of their offspring. Thefe 
Jerufalem-fmners were verily guilty in binding their pofte- 
rity under a curfe for their own wickednefs, and no doubt 
it lay with weight on their confcience, and they were ter- 
rified with the apprehenfion of having excluded themfelves 
from the mercy of God, by flaying his Son, and alfo by 
expofing their feed to his wrath. No, as if Peter fliould 
fay, though you have been thus guilty, guilty of the blood 
of the Lord, and guilty in curfing your pofterity, and de- 
ferve everlafting deftru(ftion, yet God, who forefaw all 
your wickednefs, and knows the extent of his own grace, 
hath direfted his promife to you; he has promifed re- 
miffion of fins, on repentance, to you and to your children, 
even to as many as he fliall effe£lually call, being convinc- 
ed of your evil, fear not to flee unto this fame Jefus, whom 
you have crucified j neither ye, nor your children, not 

* Matt, xxvii. aj. The fame cxpreflion ufed in the promife. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 149 

one of you are excluded from the report of fj^lvation in 
the Redeemer. Therefore, O ye men of Judea, truft in 
the Lord and be faved ! "■ Repent and be baptized every 
*' one of you, for the remilTioo of fnis,"85:C. Thus Peter, 
fkilful in the word of righteoufnefs, heals and animates 
the affli£led Jews, who lay bleeding under a fenfe of their 
guilt and ready to perilli, with an^ afiurance of obtaining 
mercy, according to the promife made to them, and to 
their pofterity, agreeable to the gofpel-report, which de- 
clares that '•'" whofoever fliall call on the name of the 
*' Lord, (liall be laved." And the following things are 
manifetl from the whole of this reply to thefe enquiring 
finners. 

I. That a perfonal and cordial repentance is of infinite 
moment. Repent every one of you. No man fliall re- 
ceive remiffion of fins, or be faved from wrath to come, 
without that repentance unto life which leads the fubjed 
into reliance on Jefus, and is accompanied with a fubmiffi- 
on to him as the Lord's Chrift. and an all-fuffieient Saviour. 
It is of univerfai concern, to repent in the fenfe of this 
pafi'age ; and every one who is pricked in the heart and en- 
quires, what he iliall do ? muPc be exhorted fo to repent. 
Dear Reader, it is not thy hearing the word, nor any con- 
virions of lin, under which thou art troubled ; nor is it 
barely a perfuafion that Jefus is the Chrift, that willfuffice 
thee. " God hath fet him forth a propitiation, through 
" faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs in the 
" remiffion of fins," Rom. iii. 25. This faith thou muft 
have. He only that believeth in Jefus, fliall obtain par- 
don and life at his hands. The fcriptures afford no ideas 
of remiffion and juftification, exclufive of a perfona! faith 
in the Lord Jefus Chrift. The promife is to him that 
believeth, and they only, " which be of faith, are bleffed 
" with faithful Abraham," Gal. iii. 9. Many are the opi- 
nions and dillindlions which even great and good men have 
advanced in the world, according to tlieir difierent con- 
ceptions of the methods of grace, which are hard to 
reconcile;, but they muft all be reduced to this certain 
truth, moft clearly revealed in the gofpel, namely, that 



I50 LECTURES ON 

without repentance there is no remiffion. And, whatlef^ 
can be the concern of a wife and faithful preacher refpe£l- 
jngeach of his hearers, than that he (liould obtain mercy 
thus to repent and be faved I But, 

IL Note the indifpenfible duty of every believer to b^ 
baptized. This evident truth is contradidled in the prac- 
tice of thofe who will not be perfuaded to fubmit themr 
felves to the Lord in this divine ordinance. Art thou of 
this number, my Friend I Serioufly confider I Repent- 
ance and baptifm in the name of Jefus, are infeparably 
connci^ed in the character of him to whom an affurance 
of falvation is given in the gofpel. '^ He that believeth 
*' and is baptized, lliall be faved,'' Mark xvi. i6. This 
is thefubftanceof preaching from the beginning; andthefe 
God, who knoweth all things, hath joined together in 
the proclamations of his gr.ice, and it becomes us to unite 
them in practice. The man that would boldly claim re-r 
miffion of fins, and the gift of the Spirit, is no Tnoi'e ex- 
cufed from baptifm than from repentance ; not that the 
one or the other is in any fenfe or degree the meritorious 
caufe of pardon, or of the beflowment of fpirituai bleif-r 
ings, but they are both exprefsly and abfolutely included 
in the defcription of him that is an heir of the promife. 
And doth not this deferve thy moft ferious attention? A 
perfbn may doubt his own real character, and fear he is 
not a believer in Chrift, in proportion to which his com- 
fort is loft, and he is prevented from cheerful obedience j 
or he may think that what his parents did with him when 
an infant, is fufficient to anfwer the demand of the gofpel 
on them who would hope to be faved, and on this per- 
fuafion be eafy in his confcience, yea and be even bold in 
his prefeffion : but what man can modeftly fay or foberly 
think, in a perufal of the premife, that he itands aflured of 
pardon and life, while he negle£ls or retufeth to fubmit to 
the authority of Jefus, by being baptized in his name ? It 
is truly aftonifliing, that any one who ccnfcientioufly holds 
a good hope, througli grace, of being juftified m the Lord, 
can a moment delay his conformity to this plain appoint- 
ment, and therebv exclude himfelf from a viHble claim in 



PRiJVtITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 151 

the promife of life, through his blood I Far be it to urge 
on difciples any opinion or dodrine of men, however pi^ 
oufly defigned, but the counfel of God is not to be fhuu- 
jied ; nor could I count myfelf pure from the blood of ail 
men, if I fpared to infift on this great command of my 
Mafter. It is true, ordinances are no faviours j but, my 
Friend, if thou art tempted to indifFerency about them, 
remember they are facred, and likevvife binding on all 
Chrift's difciples, and that falvation is to be obtained in 
a way of gofpel obedience. Take heed to thyfelf. In- 
deed a man may conform to this external appointment of 
the Saviour, and neverthelefs like Simon the forcerer, 
remain in the gall of bitternefs and bonds of iniquity ; 
therefore truft not to any profeffion whatever, but at the 
lame time confider that no man can fufficiently prove his 
repentance or fubjeftion of heart to the Redeemer, vvKo 
refufes to be baptized in his name. In one word, baptifm 
is a plain, eafy and exprefs inftitution of our Lord, in 
the negled of which, no man can yield a complete evi- 
dence of his faith in Chrift ; neither will any works, how- 
ever ufeful, and excellent in their kind, without this work 
of righteoufnefs (for fo our Lord ftiles it) prove that we 
are his difciples indeed. " Repent and be baptized every 
" one of you," is the language of heaven to the end of the 
world, wherever the gofpel is preached : And a Ikilful 
'and faithful minifter, however this ordinance may be ne- 
glefted or defpifed in this day, will not be fatisfied with- 
out putting every ©ne of his hearers not only on trufting 
in Jefus, but likewife on being baptized in his name, as he 
tenders the glory of Chrift and his own future joy. J3ut 
again, 

III. It is further to be noted, that in tlie miniftration 
of the gofpel, there is a free and open proclamation of 
pardon in the name of Chrift to every penitent Tinner. 
This known and joyful truth is confirmed by the inftance 
'before us. Here is no exception ©r difference. The 
moft guilty of tbofe Jerufalem-tranfgreiTors is affured of 
remiiiion on his repentance : which may ferve to prevent 
the malicious and cruel defign of the enemy in his a^ 



152. L E C T U R E S N 

tempt to dlfliearten a foal deeply fenfible of abounding ini- 
quity. Multitudes defpife or negleil divine grace, from 
light apprehenfions of guilt. The power of Satan in the 
minds of the unregenerate lies much in a fubtle extenua- 
tion of fin ; the enemy puts a falfe glofs on the evil there- 
of in thought, word and deed ; thus covers its bafenefs 
and eafily obtains on apoftate man, through the deceitful- 
nefs of his flefli ; infomuch tliat, being hardened, he con- 
tinues unaflre£ted with the glory and importance of falva- 
tion by Chrift. But when this flattering peace or fecurity 
is broke up, by powerful convi£lions from the Spirit, the 
old ferpent turns the tables upon him ; h& takes occafion 
from his fenfe of guilt to difcourage his hope in the mercy 
of God, and to drive him into defpair: Now he tranf- 
forms himfelf into an angel of light ; he magnifies the 
divine jullice and holinefs, and the righteoufnefs of the 
law, which is broken, and its rigor as a covenant of works, 
that men under convidion may apprehend their trani- 
greffions have exceeded the extent of God's mercy in 
Chrift. The affli6led, felf-condemned finner too readily 
liftens to thefe infmuations, and thereby often becomes 
reduced to the utmofl extremity. But if any man is un- 
der a temptation of this fort, be it known unto him that 
the devil is a liar. Thefe fuggeft:ions diredly contradidl 
the counfels of heaven, which declare that "where (in 
'* hath abounded, grace doth much more abound,'' Rom. 
V. 20. There are none fo abandoned and vile in their Itate 
of ignorance and unbelief, but, feeing themfelves loft: and 
undone, they are invited to Jefus for life. God is faith- 
ful ; and the merit of Chrift is fufficient to illuftrate his 
righteoufnefs in the pardon of fm. " Ho every one that 
" thirfteth, come ye to the waters," Ifa. Iv. i. And again, 
ver. 8. " Let the wicked forfake his way, and return 
'^ unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and 
" to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.*' And, is 
not this correfpondent with Peter's encouragement to the 
Jews on repentance? I'he infidelity, prophanenefs, in- 
juftice and cruelty, which attended their murder of the 
Son of God, and their treatment of the holy Jefus as an 
impoftor and blafphemer, in oppofition to the moft ftriking 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 153 

and miraculous evidence from heaven, of his being the 
Meffiah, was a crime, the aggravations of which are not 
to be exprefled ; yet we fee that among the thoufr.nds 
charged with this guilt, who were convinced of their wick- 
ednefs, and ftood in need of a Saviour, every one is di- 
reeled to fubmit unto him they had crucified, with a pro- 
mife of fuccefs. What a pattern is here of the long-fuf- 
ferance of God, and the riches of his grace ! Say not, 
O mourning tranfgreflbr, my fins, which are gone over 
my head, are too many and great to be forgiven I This 
is the lana^uage of curfed unbelief, and the devil; it makes 
God a liar in the proclamations of his grace, and is a vir- 
tual denial of this amazing indance of fovereign mercy, 
by which it appears that the divine purpofe in Chrift is 
equal, yea exceeds the mod accumulated guilt of him that 
repents. Therefore under whatever fpecious fhew the 
enemy would infmuate defpair, reje£l the temptation as 
contrary to the truth of God and his Son. It is.utterly 
inexcufable to defpair of mercy, after thefe declarations 
afiid examples of full and free pardon. Unbelief in them 
to whom the gofpel is fent, is horrid and fatal ; it admits 
of no excufe, but juftly cxpofes the impenitent fubje£l to 
the foreft condemnation. And further, y 

IV. The 'premifes (hew that no real penitent is to be 
refuied the ordinances of the gofpel, however bad his for- 
mer converfation may ha^'^' been. Some plead for open 
communion, and make light of baptifm itfelf. ' If any man 
appears to them pious, though he is not conformed to that 
divine inftitution, they embrace him, and cenfure their 
brethren who cannot difpenfe with an ordinance of Chrilt 
under any confideration whatever, while they applaud 
themfelves as perfonsof a truly catholic fpirit : but in fa£l, 
a right to chriftian communion is not entirely grotended in 
the piety of the fubjedl, but requires an open confeflion of 
Jefus, and devotion to him in baptifm. A man, being call- 
ed, will hereafter fit down with the faints in the kingdom 
in heaven, who, yet remaining unbaptized, hath noplace 
in the church on earth. Tlie Lord knows them that are 

U 



154 L E C T U R E S O N 

his, and accepts them; but he has commanded his difcipleS 
to be baptized in his name. And, is it the perfe<9;ion of cha- 
rity to prefume againft his exprefs will and pleafure ? But 
then, on the other hand, no man, who proves his repent- 
ance, is to be denied baptifm, or being baptized, the pri- 
vilege of the faithful, merely becaufe he was a notorious 
tranlgreffor before converfion. The men of Judea, though 
guilty of the blood of Jefus himfelf, on convi6lion, were 
directed to baptilm ; and we find them afterward admitted 
to the fellowfhip of the church. Alfo at Corinth, perfons 
who had formerly lived in a moft fhameful manner, being 
fanftifiedby grace, are numbered with the faints in that 
city, I Cor. vi. 9. Yea and fome, who once in ignorance, 
like the apoflle of the Gentiles, would have deftroyed the 
faith, after they were called became (hining inftances of 
holinefs and zeal, to the praife of the grace they received. 
I hope none will abufe this mercy to their ruin ; and far be 
it hence to infinuate that churches are not to be careful 
whom they receive. A profligate fmner, or one who hath 
openly oppofed the truth, if a genuine penitent, will of 
himfelf aflord every poffible evidence of his converfion; 
the fruits of which are to be waited for. And a man 
may be juftly fufpe^led, who would intrude himfelf on 
others, who are not fatisfied of his repentance But to 
Hand off, or to refufe the right hand of fellowlhip, to one 
that is truly and vilibly humbled for his fins, and who gives 
proper evidence of his faith in the Redeemer, becaufe of 
his former evil converfation, left it (hould offend or bring a 
difgrace on religion, as fome apprehend, or indeed on any 
other pretence, however plauiiblc, favors of ignorance and 
pharifaical pride. This at beft is no other than carnal 
realbn, and contrary to the counfel of God. Chrift Jefus 
came into the world tofave finners, and they who would re- 
jeft fuch when penitent, forget that they themfelves were 
once thefervants of lin, they run counter to the manifeft 
(lefign of the million and incarnation of the Son of God, 
and the example of all fcripture history. But to proceed, 

V. Upon the fame principle, no repenting finner fliould 
be afraid or afliamed to confer^ the Lord Jefus Chrift, be- 



PRIIVIITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 155 

caufe of his pafl: rebellion and wiclcednefs. It is probable 
that Saul, while he lay at Damafcus, feared to own his 
converfion by putting on Chrift, becaufe he had blafphem- 
ed his name and perfecuted his people in the time of his 
ignorance. We know that this was his objection againlk 
going to Jerufalem : " Lord, faith he, they know that I 
^f impriioned, and beat in every fynagogue them that be- 
" lieved on thee ; and when the blood of thy martyr Ste- 
" phen was flied, I was {landing by, confenting unto his 
*' death, and kept the raiment of them that flew him,*' 
A£ls xxii. 19. Certain it is that a view of his fmfulnefs 
occafioned his delay, as appears from the exhortation of 
Ananias : ^' And now why tarrieft thou ? arife and be 
'^ baptized, and walh away thy fins, calling on the name 
*^ of the Lord," ver. 16. So then a view of his aggra- 
vated guilt hindered him awhile, from a public acknowledg- 
ment of the Saviour in baplifm. For the like reaion 
many decline a confeffion of Chrift. They have been 
guilty of fuch and fuch heinous tranfgreflions in life, and 
therefore they arc alhamed or afraid of making a profeffi- 
on of their faith, but without a caufe ; for as no man is to 
be refufed by others, fo neither 0iould any man himfelf de- 
lay baptilrn pn account of his notorious bad life in time 
paft. If not only Saul the blafphemerandperfecutor,but 
alfo every convinced Jew, even though he had been adually 
concerned in crucifying Chrift, is directed and encouraged, 
on repentance, to he baptized in his name, what colour of 
reafon can there be for a penitent to decline an open con- 
feffion of the Lord, or to abftain from the privileges of the 
gofpel, becaule of his vilenefs before converfion ? And is 
this thy temptation, dear Reader ? Bring forth the fruits 
of repentance, and fear not to glorify thy Redeemer by a 
public devotion to his name. He that plucked thee as a 
brand from the fire, and took away thy filthy garments, 
hath bellowed this mercy upon thee, that thou maytft ap- 
pear a monument of his gr&ce in the fight of the world to 
kis praife. Be of good courage : why tarrieft thou ? arife 
and be baptized wiihouL further delay. Once more. 



156 L E C T U R E S O N 

Note VI, It is fufficient encouragement to awakened 
finners, that unto them the word orfalvationis fent. This 
is the argument, and the only argument, of the apoftle with 
the Jews, to encourage their hope of remiffion and the gift 
of the Spirit on their being baptized. O it is an unfpeaka- 
ble mercy and joy to a convinced tranfgreffor who is ready 
to perifh, when he finds the word of the gofpel directed to 
him, that he is fo far from being excluded from the promife 
of life, that Jefus invites him ! This is the firft ground of 
hope to the awakened fmner. Hence he is induced to flee, 
under all his guilt and unworthinefs, unto him that is able 
and willing to fave him ; and with the higheft reafon, for- 
furely a true penitent may fafely venture on the faithful- 
nefs and power of God to glorify his righteoufnefs in the 
pardon, fan^lification and eternal falvation of his foul, ac- 
cording to his word. And indeed the only folid founda- 
tion of hope is the teflimony of God. " L wait for the 
" Lord, and in his word do I hope,'' Pfalm cxxx. 5. That 
hope which is not grounded in the divine word, will never 
prove an anchor of the foul in an hour of temptation. But 
the perilhing fmner laying hold of the proclamations of 
grace in Chrifl: Jefus, as dire<^ed to him, v/ill not fail, 
through the affiftance of the Spirit, to hope in the Redeenv 
er, and none ever trufted in him and were aOiamed, 

Thefe are the truths which clearly refult from Peter's 
reply to the earnefl; queftion of the Jews, who applied in 
diflrefs under a conviction of their fms, namely, the infinite 
importance of being found among thofe who repent and 
believe, and their indifpenfible duty to be baptized in the 
nam.e of Jefus. Itlikewife proves that a free and full par- 
don is opened in the miniftration of the gofpel to every 
one that repents, and that no real penitent is to be re- 
fufed the ordinances of Chrift merely on account of his for- 
mer bad condu6l ; neither fhould he for this reafon ftiun 
a profeffion of his name. And finally it appears that the 
coniideration of the divine promife of life in Jefus being 
dire6led unto him, is a fufficient ground of encouragement 
to the awakened fmner, who is ready to perifli, to truft in 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 157 

the Lord, and be baptized in his name, in a certain ex- 
pedation of being faved through grace. 

This is fum of the gofpel. And thus our Saviour taught 
his difciples, that " it behoved ChriH: to llifFer, and to rife- 
*^ from the dead the third day, and that repentance and 
" remiflion of fms fliould be preached in his name among 
*' all nations, beginning at Jerufalem," Luke xxiv. 46. 
The repoi't of this grace, in the form of an exhortation, 
was from the beginning addrefTed to every enquiring hear- 
er of the word* Thus Jefus himfeif "came into Galilee 
" preaching the golpel of the kingdom of God, — faying, 
" Repent ye and believe the gofpel," Mark i. 15, 16. And 
unto the Jews in their blindnefs he faith, "'Except ye re- 
" pent, ye (hall all likewife perifii," Luke xiii. 3. And 
egain, " If ye believe not that I am he, ye (hall die in 
f'^ your fins," John viii. 24. This indeed includes a cre- 
dit of him as the Meihah, but carries in it more, even that 
repentance which ftands connected with remiifion of iins, 
as appears from the terms of the threatning in cafe of im- 
penitence. Nor is it becoming or fafe, to leflen the im- 
portance of the repentance and faith univerfally enjoined 
in the miniftration of the gofpel, on any pretence what- 
ever. And as Chrift himfeif, fo did his apollles preach 
the gofpel to every one wherever they went. This ac- 
count Paul gives of his miniftry in his appeal to the elders 
ofEphefus, A6ls XX. 21. teftifying, not fimply publidiing 
the dodrine, nor barely (hewing the neceffity of repen- 
*' tance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jefus 
," Chrift." The word fignifies to call upon or charge the 
objeft addreffed ; and thus it is ufed by the apoftle to Ti- 
mothy, 2 cpiftle iv, I. " I charge thee therefore before 
" God, &c." This Paul did both to Jews and Greeks, not 
otily (liewing them that repentance was needful to the re- 
miflion of Iins, but ftirring them up to repent: which 
agrees with what he declares to Agrippa in the court of 
Cefarea, chap. xxvi. 20. namely, that he " Ihewed firft 
" to them at Damafcus, and at Jerufalem, and tlirough- 
" out all the coafts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that 
" they (hould repent and turn to God, and do works meet 



158 LECTURES ON 

*' for repentance." In like manner, in the inftance before 
us, Peter's exhortation indeed was occafioned by the en- 
quiry of perfons convinced of their need of a Saviour j 
and no one without fuch convidion can poffibly truft in 
the Lord Jefus Chrift ; yet the apoftle's addrefs extends, 
to the whole of his audience, and his argument compre- 
hends every Jew to whom the promife belonged, even all 
the houfe of Ifrael, and every one in particular, prefent 
or abfent, under the like conviftion, is exhorted and en- 
couraged by thefe words of Peter, to repent and be bap- 
tized in the name of Jefus for the remiffion of fins. It is 
the office of the Spirit to convince men of fin ; neither 
will any turn to the Lord, who are not ready to perifli, 
and faith itfelf is the gift of God ; hence they only iq 
whom a divine power is exerted, will obey this exterpal 
call in the gofpel ; yet every one is called, and ought to be 
intreated and charged to repeut and believe, that is, as a 
periftiing fmner to flee unto Jefus, who is the only andali- 
iiifficient Saviour according to ancient prophecy, Ifa. xly, 
2,2,. '-'■ Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be fay- 
" ed." Thus to the end ot the world the gofpel is preach- 
ed to every creature, that the Lord working effe£lually 
in the hearts of his chofen, may grant them repentance 
unto life, and bring them to the obedience of faith. 

And now, my dear Reader, what doft thou think of 
thefe things, or thyfelf ? Haft thou long fat under the re- 
port of the gofpel unconcerned and impenitent ? how hard 
is thine heart, and how great is thy danger ! thou art 
yet in thy fins, fenfual in thy ftate, and void of the Spirit ; 
^nd if death overtakes thee in this fad condition, thou art 
forever undone; Ccnfider, I befeech thee; the Judge is 
at the door, and this night thy foul may be required at 
thine hands. The foul out of Chrift muft perifli ; in 
which dreadful cafe thy blood will be upon thee, the 
weight of which will fink thee in the bottomlefs gulph of 
perdition; O then repent and flee unto Jefus; there is 
no other name under heaven whereby thou canft be iaved. 
Precious and wonderful are the bltftings of pardon and 
Ikndification fet forth in the gofpel: To be a partaker of 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 159 

thefe is of the utmoft confequence to every man ; yet alas, 
how lightly efteemed, how greatly negleded and defpifed I 
Whence is it that the leaft profpeft of temporal riches 
and pleafure, or earthly enjoyments, things comparatively 
trifling and vain, immediately ftrike thy attention ; while 
alas, the unfearchable riches of Chrift, remiilion of fins, 
and the Holy Ghoft, (gifts of infinite value in themfelves, 
and of no lefs importance) are fo obvioully and (hamefully 
flighted > The moment the things of this world are re- 
ported in the ear, and propofed to a man, he feels in him- 
felf a defire, perhaps an unlawful defire, of the object ; 
and in proportion to the confidence he hatl\ of obtaining 
it, he is prone to an excefs of joy ; whereas the report of 
thefe fpiritual bleffings, neceffary to the fruition of God, 
are heard by moft without any emotion of heart, or even 
the leaft concern about a perfonal intereft in them. 

Strange and lamentable this 1 yet perfectly natural to a 
tnind that is blinded by the god of this world, and harden- 
ed through the deceitfulnefs of fin. The confcience of an 
unregencrate man is not daly if at all affe^ed with his na- 
tive guilt and pollution, or the righteoufnefs of God, or 
judgment to come. Hence the grace of the gofpel cannot 
raife his attention or engage his purfuit. If this is thy 
cafe, may the Lord open thine eyes, and grant thee a 
fight of thy real condition. But if thou art now faying 
in thine heart, under a deep fenfe of thine iniquity, What 
fhall I do ? To thee this word of falvation is fent. It is 
the word of the Lord which abideth for ever, and the 
voice of God to every one by the miniftration of his gof- 
pel; " Repent and be baptized in the name of Jefus Chrift, 
" for the remiifion of fins." And, as God is true, " He 
" that believeth and is baptized, ftiall be laved." 

To conclude. Remiflion of fins, and emiffion of the 
Holy Ghoft, are the two capital bleffings of tiie gofpci. 
To procure thefe, the Son of God was manifelt in the lieih, 
and became obedient to the death of the crofs. I'hy Sa- 
.viour, O Chriftian, lufFered and died a facrifice for fin, 
that jufticebfciug fatisfied by his completu- atonement^ uw 



i6o LECTURES ON 

divine holinefs might be vindicated in beftowing grace on 
the chofen. Hence, as we have feen, the Redeemer hav- 
ing finiflied his work, afcendedto the Father; and upon 
receiving the promife of the Spirit, he flied him forth on 
the difciples, that repentance and remiffion of fins might 
be preached in his name, for the converfion and joy of 
the redeemed among men. And, art thou a partaker of 
this heavenly calling? give diligence to prove it ; "• be of 
" good cheer, thy fms are forgiven thee." But remem- 
ber that '•'• to whom much is forgiven, the fame loveth 
much." Abound then in thefe fruits of love, that thy 
faith may appear, and grace may be magnified in thing 
eternal falvation. 



LECTURE XIV. 



Tibe converted Jetus testify their reception of the gos- 
pely in being baptized and joining the church. Notes 
on their visible obedience to the faith* 



^T^ H E further we advance, the more we have reafon 

1 to admire ! It was truly aftoniihing that remiffion 

of lins fliould be preached in the name of Jefus to them 

who had been guilty of his blood, and that any of them, 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. i6i 

in diftrefs, fliould apply to his apoftles for advice ; but ftill 
more extraordinary is the real converfion of a multitude, 
who had defied every kind of external evidence to his cha- 
ra^ler as the Mefliah, and even gloried in having procur- 
ed his execution. To behold thoufands of thefe murder- 
ers of the Lord take up the crofs in an open confellion of 
his name, whom they had lately put to death as an im- 
poftor, may juftly ftrike us with wonder; yet this was, 
through the power of God, the effed of Peter's difcourfe ; 
for we read, A6bs ii. 41. " Then they that gladly receiv- 
*•■ ed the word were baptized j and the fame day there 
" were added unto them about three thoutand fouls." — - 
Thus the omnipotent arm of fovereign grace is ever victo- 
rious, and it came to pafs as the prophet foretold, " Thy 
*' people {hall be willing in the day of thy power." The 
particulars of this remarkable account being opened, will 
lead us to feveral points effential to the experience and 
duty ©f them who are effe£lually called. 

Firft, we are told that they received his word, i. e. be- 
lieved the gofpel he preaclied. In believing there is a re- 
ception of the word and of Chrift revealed in it. And 
iiccordingly in John i. 12. they who received him, are 
the fame with thofe who believed on his name ; which 
agrees with what our Lord fays in his addrefs to the Fa- 
ther concerning his difciplcs : *' I have given them thy 
*' words, and they have received them,'* John xvii, 8. 

Unbelievers rejeCl the word of falvation, and like many 
at Antioch, Ads xiii. 46. put it from them, and thereby 
judge themfelves unworthy of everlafting life. But thefe 
men, being awakened and convinced, believed the report, 
and accounting it a faithful faying and worthy of all ac- 
ceptation, embraced and applied it. They were' helped, 
through grace, to ^' receive the engrafted word, which is 
*' able to fave our fouls.'' And that to receive the word 
in the fenfe of this place, carries in it nothing le^fs than the 
obedience of faith, or a receiving Chrift Jefus the Lord, 
appears froia the event. 



l62 leg T U R E S on 

Note again. The manner in which they embraced the 
gofpel of Chrift, namely, with pleafure. " Then they 
" .that gladly received his word." They received it with 
all readinefs of mind. As Zaccheus, when called by the 
Saviour from the fycamore-tree^ " he niade hafte and 
♦' came down and received him joyfully," Luke xix. 6, 
Thus the people of Galilee, who waited for Jefus when 
he returned from the country of the Gadarenes, gladly 
received him again : So when the word is mixed with 
faith, it is attended with joy in the Holy Ghoft, i TheflT. 
vi. I. Some joy of heart hath been felt by that man who 
knows the found of the gofpel, which is joyful tidings to 
the periQiing fmner. Thy frame, Chriftian Reader, may 
at prefent be forrowful ; but once, when firfl the promife 
of remiflion was received, it gladdened thine heart. And ■ 
this was the experience of Dcivid : " Thy teftimonies 
" have I taken as my heritage for ever, for they are the 
" rejoicing of my heart," Pfalm cxix. in. And again; 
*' I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great fpoil," 
ven 162. which agrees with Matt. xiii. 44« '' Tlie 
** kingdom of heaven is like unto a treafure hid in afield; 
" the which when a man hath found he hideth, and for 
" joy thereof goeth and felletb all that he hath, and buy- 
" eth that field." Such is the effe£l of the gofpel, when 
it is the power of God unto the falvation of a man that 
believes ; he gladly receives it. 

Now they who indeed thus obey from the heart this 
fornfi of doftrine, are naturally wiiling to teftify the fame 
in every a£l of external obedience^- and accordingly thef©' 
Jews were immediately baptized, and thereby openly and 
readily acknowledged Chritl Jefus the Lord. Baptifm is 
one part of the counfel of God, which the apoftle had de- 
clared. The minifters. of Chrid are to teach not barely 
repentance, but the b)aptifm of repentance for the remif- 
fion of fins, i. e. it becomes them to dired all who repent^ 
to be baptized on a confeffion of their guilt and their faith 
in the Mefliah. In this manner John baptift began in the 
wildernefs, ^' baptizing with the baptifm of repentance, 
"- faying to the people, that they fliould believe on him 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 163 

**■ that fliould come after him, that is, on Chrift Jefus,**' 
Ads xix. 4. And after the Lord was rifen, he fent forth 
his apoftles, faying, " Go ye into all the world, and preach 
" the gofpel to every creature. He that believeth and 
** is baptized, fliall be faved," Mark xvi. 15, 16. This 
agrees with the hiftory of the eunuch, in which it appears 
that Philip had in his difcourfe treated on thedo£lrine of 
baptifm, on a profeffion of faith. Hence he takes the firft 
opportunity to propofe himfelf^ and this is the reply of 
his fpiritual guide ; " If thou believeft with all thine hcarE 
*' thou mayeft," A6ts viij. 36, 37. Thus they who re- 
ceive the word are to call on the name of the Lord ; '* for 
♦' with the heart man believeth unto righteoufnefs, and 
*' with the mouth confeihon is made unto falvation," 
Rom. X, 10. And this evidence thefejerufalem-converts 
gave of their having received the gofpel they had heard ; 
• they furrendered to Jefu£, and owned thenifelves his 
difciples ; " for as many of you as have been baptized in- 
'* to Chrift, have put on Chrill," Gal. iii. 2,7. 

From their baptifm the apoftle proceeds to their union 
with the church ; *' there were added unto them,'* i, e, to 
the church, as appears from ver. 47. He that is baptiz- 
ed in the name of Jefus, is become his vifible fubje^l, and 
is formally meet for the communion of faints in his houfe ; 
he is as it were now openly in the kingdom of God's dear 
Son, and a difciple of the Redeemer ; but no man com- 
mences a member of a chrilHan church, in which alone 
the feat of government and gofpel order is found, purely 
by his being baptized. Indeed every one thus prepared, 
whufe character anfwers to his holy profelTion, and who 
is capable of the duties and ends of this fpiritual commu- 
nion, is to be received ; but there is noneceffary connexi- 
on between a man's baptifm and his relation to any par- 
ticular church. He that is baptized is both entitled and 
obliged to chriftian communion, but in order to this, an 
union is needfwl ; the manner of which is clear from a 
Cor. viii. 5. " They firifgave their own felves unto th^"^" 
" Lord, and unto us by the will of God,'' To the fame 
purpofe is Rom. xv. 71 " Wherefore receive ye one ano-? 



i64 LECTURES ON 

" ther, as Chrift alfo received us, to the glory of God." 
So then the formal bond of church-fellowlhip is mutual 
confent. No baptized perfon, who in the judgment of 
charity is a believer, is on any account to be refufed ; 
neither his poverty, nor the weaknefs of his faith, nor his 
being a babe in fpiritual underftanding, nor any other cir- 
cumftance whatever, may hinder the acceptance of him 
who hath learned Chrift; and, being baptized in his name, 
has a competent knowledge of the nature and defign of 
chriftian communion: This is manifeft from John i. ig^ 
mentioned already. " But to as many as received him, tb 
" them gave he power (or privilege) to become the fons 
** of God." What lefs can be intended by this power 
than a right to fhare with the difciples in every privilege 
of tlie gofpel ? Therefore as many as believe on his name 
are entitled thereto. But ftill the confent of the parties 
is required to conftitute a perfon a member of a particular 
chriftian fociety ; he muft propofe, and they muft accept, 
in the name of the Lord. While therefore we avoid the 
pride of Diftrophes, and by no means reje£l a brother in 
Chrift, or caft him out of the church ; on the other hand, 
let us take heed that under a notion of charity we do not 
countenance dil'order. No man can be conftrained againft 
his own will unto this relation in any gofpel-church ; and 
a pretence of right to intrude into the fociety of the faith- 
ful without a full fatisfa£tion as to a meetnefs for com- 
munion, is againft the dictates of reafon and fcripture, and 
particularly the example of Saul, that eminent inftance of 
fovereign and omnipotent grace : After his calling and 
baptifm he was not joined to the difciples till they, being 
perfuaded of his converfion and charader, gave him the 
right hand of fellowfliip. And if this was required in the 
primitive times, and among the apoftles, who were to fe. 
parate and go into different parts of the world for the 
fpread of the gofpel, much more ought believers, who 
are to continue together in the order of Chrift, to be fa- 
tisfied in them whom they lay into their bofom. So then 
you fee that there muft be a joining by mutual confent, in 
•rder to the communion of faints in a chriftian church-.- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 165 

flate. And in this manner, no doubt, the-fe Jews, when 
baptized, were added to the church. 

The apoftle having noted their admiffion, goes on to 
mention their number ; not indeed precifely, but a few 
more or lefs ; about three thoufand fouls. A very large 

fathering indeed ! Now came to pafs what our Lord told 
eter and John, when he called them from their net^, 
Matt. iv. 19. " Follow me, ijnd I will make you fifliers 
" of men." The miraculous draught at the {ea of Tibe- 
rias, which the difciples could fcarce drag to fiiore, was 
but a {hadow of this, taken up by the net of the gofpel. 
The fields were now white, and the reaper foon rejoiced 
"with his flieaves I What an harveft of fouls was here 
Colle£led into the kingdom of heaven! May we notjuilly 
admire, and efpecially when we confider that all thefe 
were gathered and joined to the Lord the fame day ? This 
is a marvellous circumftance, but it was the Lord's doing ; 
and who fliall limit the power of God f It is eafy with 
Jehovah to convert any number, in whatever fpace, at his 
pleafure. In a day or in an hour, yea in a moment, the 
vi<9;orious arm of his grace can fubdue the heart of a finner, 
and even turn the difobedient in thoufand^ to the wifdom 
of the juft ! Had the change depended on the preacher, 
this extraordinary account might have been queftioned ; 
butfince the work is divine, if any man doubt, the anfwer 
is ready ; it is the fame as in the cafe of the refurre6"lion. 
Why fliould it be thought a thing incredible with you that 
God fhould quicken fo great a number of fouls in a day ? 
Is any thing too hard for the Almighty I Cannot he at 
his will, in an inftant, reduce a multitude of unbelievers 
to the obedience of the faith ? Surely with God ail things 
are poffible. Some, indeed, have queried whether fo many 
perfons could be baptized in a day ; though it appears not 
improbable to them who confider the number of baths at 
Jerufalem, and that the apoftles had hands more than fuffi- 
cient to accomplifh this work from eleven in the morning, 
by which time it is reaibnable to fuppofe Peter had finifh* 
ed his fermon. But whatever diuiculty is made about the 
J)apti2ing thefe perfons, there can be no room to hefitatc 



i66 LECTURES ON 

concerning thepower of God to convert them within the 
time abovemeniioned. 

Once more, obferve ; this account is univerfal and par- 
ticular ; They all and every one gladly received the word ; 
Kcne but thole who received the word were baptized; 
and DO one baptized in the name of Jefus on this teftimo- 
Dy was rerufod a place in the church, but was freely ad- 
DFiitted. Such \s the order of the gofpel ; nor can it be 
iliewn from the New-Teftament that any perfon was ad- 
mitted to bapiifin who received not the word of the Lord, 
or that an unbaptizedperion was at any time joined to the 
church. This is the fum of the account, A number of 
finners at Jerufalem, to the amount of about three thoufand, 
hearing frqra Peter the good tidings of remiifion of lins.^ 
■were enabled to believe ; and in tellimony of their cordial 
acceptance of the gofpel, openly confeOed Jefus Chritt, and 
Dt'ing in his name baptized, they were immediately added 
to the church by mutual confent. Here it may be ufeful 
to paufe and retle^l. 

In this glorious event we have a wonderful difplay of 
the fovereignty, power^ grace and faithfulnefs, of God. 
Here is diftinguiihing mercy, they and not others. Thou- 
limds weye converted ; but there is reafon to conclude that 
many more thoufands, vv^ho heard the fame fermon remain- 
ed in unbelief. Again, how adorable the power of God 
in the fudden converfion of io many llubborn unbelievers, 
who had afted againft the mod ftriking teiVi monies of the 
Father to his well-beloved Son ; S'.nd to call home and par- 
don thefe daring and bloody tranfgreffors, who had mur- 
dered the Prince of life and crucified the Lord of glory I 
This vv'as alfo rich grace indeed. Nor can we too much 
admh'e the faithfulneis of God in thus accompliihing the 
promifes he had given to his ch.urch. Now it came to 
pafs that in even-tide it was light. How did he multiply 
the nation and increafe their joy I Their joy before him 
was truly according to the joy of harveft ; and they tri- 
umj)lied in Chrilt as men rejoice when, they divide the 
ipoii, Ifa. ix. 3. Alasyhowdifferent is the face of things. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 167 

now ! Now a mlnifter of the gofpel can truly mourn with 
the prophet, Micah vii. i. and lament, faying, " Woe is 
" ine, for I am as when they have gathered the fummer^ 
** fruits, as the grape -gleanings of the vintage 1" Here and 
there an inftanc^e, for the Lord hath not utterly forfakewi 
us. And if any judgment is to be formed by the exam- 
ple of thefe converts, how few gladly receive the word! 
Few indeed, comparatively fpeaking, are baptized and' 
added to the church ! In this refped there is but little even 
of the form of godlinefs among us. The generahry o£ 
hearers feem to have no inclination to obey. O that they 
had hearts to turn their feet unto the teiHmonies o*^ the 
Lord, and would glorify Chrift in a profefled fabjeclion to 
his gofpel! But in vain do minifters now with and pray; 
in vain are ftrong arguments and earneft intreaties with- 
many who would be thought chriftians ; they regard not 
the order of the gofpel, as if chriftianity could be promot- 
ed without a church-ftate, or there was neither authori- 
ty, wii'dora or grace, in the appointments of the Lord ! 
Neverthelefs God is able and faithful to revivfe us again. 
Let us not dei'pond and fay, our bones are dried, our hope 
is loft ! The divine power and grace, manifeiled in the 
converfion of this multitude, fliould encourage us to hope 
and wait for the pouring out of the Spirit from on hii^h ; 
then {hall our wildernefs become as a fruitful field. Ma- 
ny will then embrace the word with joy, and become obe- 
dient to the faith, to the glory of God,, and the in ere afe of 
fiis vifible kingdom. 

But for the direction and encouragement of thofe who 
are dotibtful of their ftate, or negligent of their duty to 
Chrift, I riiall attempt a more particular improvement of 
this original example, which manifeftly prefents us with 
the following truths, namely, 

I. That a faving reception of the word is accompanied 
with joy. 

II. It becomes every one, who hath obtai;^ed mercy 
to believe and embrace the gofpel, to be immediately bap- 
tized in the i^ame of jtfus. And, 



168 LECTURE SON 

III. He that gladly receives the word, and is baptized 
into Chrift, is obliged and entitled to the communion of 
faints, and Qiould accordingly be joined to the church. 

We have feen that the example of thefe converts agrees 
with many other inftances on record, which abundantly 
fhew that a reception of the word is attended with joy, 
and prove the firil proportion : and indeed, in the nature 
of the thing, it cannot be otherwife. The tidings of 
peace, pardon, liberty, falvation, and vi6lory, muft con- 
vey joy to the fubje<5l ; but all thel'e are included in the 
voice of a reconciled God to peridiing fmners by the gof- 
pel of his Son. The man who is unacquainted with the 
evil of fin, and his own fad condition under its power and 
curfe, may take up with a notion of evangelical truth, 
and be a ftranger to the gladnefs felt by thefe converts ; 
but he that has been laid under a deep convidion of his 
mifery and guilt, and, like the men of Judea, pricked in 
the heart, under a fenfe of his heinous iniquity, cannot 
fail of rejoicing in the knowledge of falvation by the re- 
iniffion of fms. Can a proclamation of liberty to the cap- 
tive, pardon to the condemned, and glory to them who 
are covered with (hame as children of wrath, be received 
without joy ? it is utterly impoffible. They who are rea- 
dy to perifli cannot but rejoice in a profped of deliverance, 
in proportion to the danger apprehended, and the certainty 
and compleatnefs of the falvation revealed. In one word ; 
it is gofpel that is received, and eflentially a joyful found^ 
and therefore it muft in fome degree rejoice thofe who 
embrace it. 

And as to the other obfervations, they are nolefs con- 
firmed by the teftimony of fcripture. It is implied in 
the general report of the gofpel, " He that believeth 
** and is baptized fliall be favcd." And the commiffion of 
our Lord to teach and baptize, proves the obligation of 
baptifm on them that are taught. And it is plain fromt. 
the exhortation of Ananias to Saul when he lingered,, 
A£ls xxii. 16. that no enlightened perfon, under any pre^ 
tence, liiould delay his fubmiflion to Chrift, or be refufedt 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. i6^ 

his facred appointments. And, however fome may ex- 
cule themfelves, and are not to be perfuaded unto this 
obedience, it appears from the readinefs of thefe men at. 
Jerufalem, and the jailor and his houfe on the. Hke occail-, 
on, and efpecially when joined to tha; of the eunuch, 
A<^s viii. 36. I fay, it appears but natural to thofe who 
receive the word gladly by a cordial faith, tQ be forward, 
in prefenting themfelves as the fubje<^s of baptifm. No- 
thing can be more evident than that he who receiveth the 
engrafted word fliould immediately, conform to this di- 
vine inftitution. And that it becomes a baptized believ- 
er to be joined to the church the firft: opportunity, is not 
to be doubted, fince he is baptized in order to this com- 
munion of faints, and the obfervance of whatever the 
Lord hath commanded; fo that a man who, after he has 
fubmitied to this ordinance, negle£ls the facred fellow- 
Ibip, defeats one end of his baptifm, and comes iliort of^ 
his engagements in that folemn devotion of himfelF to the 
Lord, as well as to the uniform pra6lice of the primitive 
chriflians. 

Since therefore it cannot be modeftly queftloned that it 
is the exprefs will of God. and agreeable to the condu£l 
of fuch who were enlightened from the beginning, that 
they who embrace the gofpel (liould without delay be bap- 
tized and added to the church, it may be prefumed that 
few will controvert thefe points, but at the fame time.,, 
as obferved, the far greater number of hearers obey not' 
the truth, among which we may hope there are many to 
whom the word of the Lord is precious ; fuch perfons are 
for the moft par^earful of their meetnefs for thefe holy 
appointments. When one and another is afked why, up- 
on a good hope through grace, he remains without prac- 
tical and vifible fubje6lion to Chrift, whom he efteems as 
his Lordi The common reply is, I fear I am not fufE- 
ciently qualified ; I am unworthy, and not duly prepared 
for thefe inftitutions. And here, it mufl be owned, that 
men fliould take heed that they do not precipitate into any 
form of religion. A formal profeflion, without the life 

X 



i^o LECTURES ON 

and power of godlinefs, avails notthehypocritfe; nor will 
a blind devotion, however exa6t and externally regular,' 
fave any m^n ; yet under this pretence, fhall any true 
chriftian omit the appointments of his Redeemer? And 
fince we have before 'tis a criterion of real chriftianity, 
and confequently of an undeniable fitnefs for gofpel-- 
ordinances, I beg the fcrupulous believer to credit me 
awhile,' till I have an opportunity of purfuing the intereft- 
ing point in another lecture or two ; in his attendance on 
which, I truft, by the bleffing of God, his doubts maybe 
removed to his full fatisfa6lion. 



L E C T U R E XV. 



What is included iti a saving reception of the <word^ and 
the manner in which it is embraced. 



FR O M the ftriking example of the firft converts at 
Jtrufalem, and other lilie inftances, it appears that 
tue.word is embraced with joy, and that every one who 
receives it, (liould be immediately baptized, and joined 
to the church. Points which are fcarcely debated. Ne- 
vertlielefs, how rarely are the waters of the baptiftry 
ufed; and how few, in comparifon, appear before the 
Lord with the lacrifice of praife, and fit at his table I — 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY- 171 

Now this muft be owing, either to a neglect of the gofpel^ 
or to fome groundlefs fcruple in them that embrace it, 
whereby they are prevented from conforming to this holy 
profeflion. But the inftance of the Jews, who were bap- 
tized at the direction of Peter, is a fufficient reply to the 
ferious enquirer: It reduces the point to this fingle quef- 
tion, namely, Have I in like manner received the word ? 
If confcience anfwers in the affirmative, every juft objec- 
tion is removed, and the fubje£l muft find relief from his 
fears, and a warrant to appear under that form of godli- 
nefs which becomes the difciples of Jefus. With a view, 
therefore, to ailift thofe who are doubtful, and to animate 
the fmcere penitent unto a cheerful obedience, liliall par- 
ticularly confider the character and experience of thofe 
who were baptized and joined to the Lord at Jerufalem, 
and Ihew the obligation of them who have obtained the 
like mercy to copy this original pattern. 

The principal and interefting branch of my fubje£l is the 
defcription of thofe who willingly offered themfelves,and 
were added to the church. He that finds himfelf anfwer 
to this, will readily follow their example, and efpecially 
when he confiders the obligations upon him, which are 
hereafter to be named. Now thefe primitive difciples are 
reprefented as having gladly received his word. To a 
full difplay of which, it may be ufeful to (liew, what is 
included in a faving reception of the truth, how or in 
what manner a perfon gladly receives it, the fource of 
that joy which they feel. And, as a further illuftracion 
pf the point, I fliall mention the genuine fymptoms of this 
bleffed experience. Now a cordial reception of the gof-^ 
pel carries in it, 

I. An underftanding in Chrill, and the things which 
belong to his kingdom. " He that receiveth the feedin- 
" to good ground, is he that heareth the word and under- 
" ftandeth it," Matt. xiii. 23. Such is the profitable 
hearer, who embraces the golpel in his heart. This wag 
i:he experience of the faithful of old. Hence faith Da^ 
yid, *' The entrance of thy word giveth light, it givetl^ 



1^ L £ C T tf R E S O N 

f* underftanditig to the fimple,'' Pfalm cxix. 130. And 
in verfe 25, he prayeth, faying, " Give me underftand^ 
" ing that I may know thy teftimonies.*' ' Some are 
greatly offended that man in his natural Hate is repfe- 
fented void of underftanding Yet thus faith the fcrip- 
ture, which cannot be broken, Rom. i. 31, ** without 
^' underftanding." And again, chap, iii. 11. *' There 
" is none that underftandeth." To the fame purpoffe is 
Ephef. iv, 18. *' Their underftanding is darkene<l."— 
Yea faith the prophet, Pfalm Ixxx. 5. " They know 
^' not, neither will they underftand,'' A natural man 
may know all language, and be a profound critic in the let-j 
ter of fcripture : He may alfo attain to an accurate know* 
ledge of every doArine therein revealed; neverthelefs, 
darknefs hath blinded his eyes, he is fpiritually blind ; for 
with all his natural advantages, he cannot difcern or dif- 
tinguifli the gloryand importance of the gofpel, he hath" 
ears but heareth not ; and is in the fame iituation with 
the Jews, to whom our Lord thus declares, John viii, 43, 
f Why doyenotunderftand my Ipeet-h? even becaufe ye 
cannot hear my word." 

Thus the mind of the unregenerate hearer labours un- 
der infuperable prejudices, infomuch that he is incapable, 
without a change, of beholding the glory of the Lord, and 
1;he wifdom of God in his gofpel. To which impotence, 
in refpe£l of divine knowledge, the apoftle is as plain 63 
words can exprefs it. "-The natural man receivethnot 
" the things of the Spirit of God„ they are fool i (line fs un- 
" to him ; neither can he know them, becaufe they arei 
" fpiritually difcerned,'* i Cor. ii. 14. This is the fad 
ftate of the carnal man ; he heareth the word of the king- 
dom, but our Lord exprcfsly declares, he underftandeth it 
not. So that in whatever fenfe unprofitable hearers may 
be faid to receive the word, or to have it fown in their 
hearts, they are certainly deftitute of a capacity of difcem- 
ing the things of the Spirit. But this is the criterion of 
him who receiveth the word to life everlafting, that he 
underftandeth it ; and by this he ftands diftinguilhed from 
pai other hearers. He hath what is ftiled, Col, i. 9. a. 



PRIMITIVE GHRISTIANITY. 1^3 

fpiritual underftanding, which is eflential unto a faving re- 
ception ofthegofpel, and is the efFedl of divine iiiumina- 
tion. Hence the prayer of the apodle, 2, Tim. xii. 7'. 
" And the Lord give thee underftanding in all things.*' 
In one word, God hath given to him that is called, an 
underftandiiig to " know him that is true/' Without this 
gift of God, no man can receive the word in the joyful man- 
ner thefe converts did. 

Again, faith is eflential to this blefled experience. 
Concerning thofe who perilhed under the former difpen- 
fation we read, lleb. iv. 2. that '^ the word preached did 
*' not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that 
" heard it." The alluiion is to a mingling two or more 
things until they incorporate. In like manner, when the 
Word is mixed with faith, it is not only received into the 
\inderftanding, but extends to all the powers of the foul, 
fo that the heart is conformed and united therewith, 
7'hus runs the margin of many copies, ** becaufe they 
*' were not united by faith.'* A fimple idea of the truth, 
however clear and diitinft, yea and though attended with 
the higheff credit of its veracity, is not fufficient. The 
heart muft be deeply imprefled, and as it were transform- 
ed into the do6lrine of Chrift. Indeed this fuppofes an 
enlightened underitanding, and a pcrfuafion of the exift- 
ence and glory of the things which are rtvealed, without 
which it is impoflible to receive them into the heart. But 
a profitable reception of the word, by faith, implies more 
than a bare underftanding, which in itfelf cannot produce 
a fufficient alteration in the fubje6"t. The whole heart 
is concerned in this divine exercife, as appears from Rom. 
vi. 17. '•'• Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of 
*' do£trine which was delivered unto you ;" or as it is 
read, *' unto which you was delivered.'' Where much 
the fame idea is conveyed by an alluiion to metal caft in 
a mould, which receives the impreliion of its type, and 
comes out with its likenefs : So is the heart transformed 
when the v;ord is united by faith ; yea and ftill more, ic 
as it were incorporates with it, fo that the things of the 
gofpel hath an exiftence in the ful>je<^, as the great Dr. 



;i74 LECTURESON 

Owen obferves on Heb. xi. i. "It is the fubftance of 
*' things hoped for-" Faith, mixing with a preached gof- 
pel, gives a kind of fubfillence of what is promifed in the 
heart of the believer ; it is alfo, faith the apoftle, " th© 
" evidence of things not feen.'* The fubjed hath the 
witnefs in himfelf, and a fubftantial evidence of the truth 
in his own experience. So then the word thus received, 
under the influence of divine grace, becomes united with, 
and transforms the fubjed in a manner not unlike that of 
natural food, which by incorporating with the body, is a 
means to fuftain and invigorate animal life. It is true, 
this divine operation is wonderful, the modus of which is 
not to be explained ; but this is no juft objeftion, fmce the 
like muft be owned of the manner in which the food of 
the body unites and fuftains it. The learned may defcribe 
or dilate on digefiion, fecretion, feparation, nutrition, &c, 
with more or lefs certainty ; yet after all it is allowed 
that nature is a myllery in refpe<9; to her actual incorpo- 
ration of food as it were into herieif, but that the bodv is 
fuftained in this manner will fcarce be denied. And the 
fame idea is conveyed by the word being mixed with faith 
in the heart, as likewife when the gofpei is compared to 
food, and Chriil to the bread of life, and alfo when faith 
in him is reprefented under the notion of eating his flefli 
and drinking his blood. Spiritual and natural tating are 
indeed edentially different, and to compare the former in 
fvery circumftance with the latter would be abfurd; but 
if in any particular they agree, it is in this, that each in- 
vigorate the life to which it is adapted, by being received 
into and incorporating with the fubje6; ; and this feems the 
purport of that remarkable paffage, % Pet, i. 4. where, 
fpeaking of the exceeding great and precious promifes 
which are given us by the gofpei, he faith, " that by thefe 
*' ye might be partakers of the divine nature." Thefe 
promifes embraced with faith, became a means, under the 
agency of the Spirit, of transforming the foul into the 
divine image. Hence holinefs, humility, and the love of 
God, appear in the fubjcdl, to the praiie of his grace whp 
hath called him. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 175 

It follows, that the afFeflions are iacluded in receiving 
the word, as obferved i it reaches the heart. " Faith 
*' (fays an excellent divine) fets love to work upon the 
" objeds propofed to be believed.'V And the apotlle gives 
this criterion of the chriftian faith, that it worketh by- 
love, Gal. V. 6. It therefore touches the inward fprings 
of the foul, and draws out the affeftions towards God and 
Chrift, and the tilings of the Spi|:it, This is the faith 
which, being mixed with the word, renders it effe<9:ual to 
promoting the divine life in the foul. Thus all the powers 
of the mind are. engaged, and the believer receives the 
love of the truth that he might be faved, % Theff. ii. 10. 
And, indeed, love to the truth and to Chrift is infepar-' 
able, from a tafte of his grace. There is no receiving the 
word with a due fenfe of its glory and importance, and 
mixing it with faith, which implies fome degree of hope' 
in the bleffings revealed, without a fincere, univerfal and" 
fuperlative affe^lion, which every one more or lefs feels 
on embracing the gofpel ; fo that the religion of a real 
chriftian is rooted and grounded in love from the begin- 
ning. 

And further, this includes a fincere and univerfal obe- 
cience. Hence believers arc defcribed as obedient to the 
faith, A6ls vi. 7. And Peter, i epif. i. ii, thus exhorts 
the difciples : " Seeing you have purified youR fouls in 
"^ obeying the truth, thro' the Spirit, fee that ye love one 
♦' another," &c. On the other hand, they who reject the 
counfel of God are pronounced difobedient, and are com- 
plained of as not obeying the gofpel. In receiving the word 
there is not only afubmiflion to the righteoufnefs of God, 
but the perfon refigns himfelf unto Jefus as his Lord, and 
becomes a willing fubjed of his kingdom. Thus in Coi. 
ii. 6. it is ftiled, receiving Chrift Jefus the Lord, i. e. to 
be difpoftd and governed by him in all things. He that 
cordially embraces the gofpel furrenders himfelf unto Je- 
fus, and the language of his heart is with Saul, who, when. 
convertec4, cries out, " Lord, what wilt thou have me 
" to do V^ And I need only fay, that in the natural courfe 
of things this devotion of foul to the Redeemer will iifue 



1^6 t E C T U R E S O N 

in external obedience. Thus when the word is the power 
of God to falvatlon, it isi received into the underftanding, 
mixed with faith, engager the neart of the fubje£l, and^ia- 
attended with ^n unfeigned obedience to Ghrift. 
.. - ■ .1 ; ,.iMj;,j ■.:...■ 
Now he that has obti)»npd merjcy thus to believe the 
Word of the gofpel, will appear, on reEedion, to have rej^ 
ceived it in the following-manner ; 

Firft, with a full perfuafion of its true and proper divi- 
nity : *' For our gofpel came not unto you in word only, 
" but alfo in power, and in the Ho^y Ghoft, and^in much 
"- aiTurance,'* i ThefT. i. 5. i. e. of its divine original 
and authority; ''^ becaufe ye received the word of^God,, 
" which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of 
"• men, but as it is in truth the word of God," chap, xi. 
13. And this they did not barely fro«i any external cvi^ 
dence whatever, but from an inward experience of its pow- 
er, for the apoftle adds, ''which effedlually worketh in 
*' you that believe." The word comes with a divine au- 
thority, into the heart, and commends itfelf to the con- 
fcience. Hence though the preaching of the crofs is to 
them that perifti foolifhnefs, yet " unto them that are call' 
" ed it is the wifdom of God and the power of God." 
They receive the word as from the Lord, and every doc- 
trine is embraced in his name ; and its being thus appre-. 
bended, is the very ground of their faith, afFedlion and obe- 
dience, which (land, not in the wifdom of men, but m the, 
power of God. It is this divine voice they hear, and this 
alone conquers the foul and compels the heart to obedience. 
So that the believer has an eye to the fupreme authority 
of God ; and in receiving his word he fubmits to and re- 
lies upon him as the all-perfe<ft Jehovah and Sovereign of 
his creatures, who has a right to demand his obedience, 
and whofe faithfulnefs never can fail. In a word ; this re- 
ception of the gofpel we ^re fpeaking of, carries in it that 
abfolute dependence, and that unreferved fubjedion, which 
is due to God only, and therefore muft be grounded on his 
authority ; for it would be unlawful to yield in this manner 
to any mere creature. But again, 



P R I M I T VE C H R I S T I A N I T Y. 177 

The word thus received is alfo embraced inftantaneouf- 
ly. " The kingdom of heaven (faith our Lord) is like un- 
" to a merchant-man feeking goodly pearls, who when he 
*' had found one pearl of great price, he went and fold all 
" that he had, and bought it," Matt xiii. 45, 46. -« The 
truth of God is not like the opinion of man, to be deliberat- 
ed upon and cautiouily received : what comes with a di- 
vine authority, to the confcience, admits no debate. No 
fooner doth the entrance of the word enlighten the mind 
andpofTefs it with the knowledge of the glory of God in 
the perfon of Chrift, but the heart is fubdued and obeys. 
And the reafon is plain ; for if a man could doubt a mo- 
ment whether or not he fhall obey divine truth, he would 
prove himfelf perverfe, and in a ftate of rebellion againft: 
God. 

And further. The word is embraced, in an eager and 
refolute manner, with the utmoft willingnefs of heart. 
Such is the nature and importance of the gofpel, that it 
cannot be duly received wilh indifference. A reception 
of the word in the I'enfe we are upon, as hinted before, 
terminates in faith, and includes that coming to Chrift or 
receiving of him, which is the fame with believing on his 
name. The truth is received by thofe who are ready to 
periQi, and to fuch it muft be as life from the dead. The 
frame of the penitent finner towards the word, when he 
layeth hold of the promife and fleeth to Chrift for life, will 
in fome degree anfwer to the importance of that concern 
he has in it, which is no lefs than that of being delivered 
from wrath to come, and the obtaining of life everlafting. 
This good news is as cold waters to a thirfty foul ; and he 
muft be thirfty that drinks it. Nor are the invitations of 
the gofpel given to any other. So then the word is receiv- 
ed with a longing heart, and with a holy refolution to re- 
nounce every thing for the fake of Chrift and the righteouf- 
nefs of God in him. 

Moreover, the gofpel is received with unfeigned con- 
trition of foul. Indeed when it enters the heart it re- 

Y 



lyS L EOT U R K S O N 

lieves from the forrows of a guilty confcietice ; it heals 
the fubjet^ of thofe wounds which the terrors of the Al- 
inighty have made under legal convi<^ion, and fills him 
with peace through faith in the blood of the Saviour, but 
at the fame time it opens the lluices of evangelical repent- 
ance. Remiffion is received with the profoundeft humi- 
Kty ; for the fubje^l being melted under a fenfe of divine 
Jove, is deeply affefted with his own unworthinefs, and 
inoxirns with felf-abafement for the evil of his many tranf* 
greffions, which are freely forgiven him. Hence alfo he 
is filled with admiration at the rich grace of God bellowed 
on him. 

in a word, it is plain, from the inftancein hand, that an 
acceptance of the gofpel is attended with joy. Thefe 
Jeruialem-finners gladly received the word. In like man- 
ner do all who embrace it, which, as hinted, agrees with 
the nature of the gofpel -report, it being elTentially good 
tidings of joy. Ner is evangelical forrow which belongs 
to a broken and contrite heart, at all inconfiftent with this; 
The mercy of God, conveyed through the blood of his 
Soh, is adapted to both ; for furely the man, who hath re- 
ceived remiffion of fms, rnay wellbhiOi and mourn on ac- 
count of his vilenefs, and'his having offended that Lord 
who hath pardoned him, and at the fimc time lincerely and 
gladly rejoice in the grace'he has received. 

In this manner enlightened fmners mix the word with 
faith, and obey the truth from the heart. They receive 
it as the word of God, in an inftant, without hefitation, 
and with ardor and refolution, as moft delirable in itfelf, 
and important to them. They likewife embrace it with 
a contrite frame, under a deep fenfe of their own unwof- 
thinefs and the abounding grace, which they alfo admire ; 
and further, it is attended with gladnefs, as it was with 
the Jews. Articles, which, I am perfuaded, will find a 
teftimony in the confcience of him, who has been called 
■ otlt of d^rknefs into marvellous light. It is certain that 
the experience of the faithful differ much in degree; fome 
are not fo deeply fenfible as others may have been j and I 



PRIMITIVE-CHRISTIANITY. 179 

would be far from infifting on any thing not quite eflential, 
and thereby ftumble the weak ; but it appears to me that 
thefe are genuine criterions. And I cannot but think that 
the leaft of all faints will difcern, on reflexion, that the 
authority of God is at the foundation of his faith ; that 
however long he may have been doubtful and held back, 
through ignorance and fear, from reiling his foul on Chrift, 
the moment he faw his fulnefs and the mercy of God held 
forth unto him, he yielded to the fceptre of his love ; and 
that in fo doing, he humbled himfelf as unworthy the bleff- 
jng, and admired the grace of his pardon; and, in a word, 
that at this feafon he felt fome degree of joy in believing. 
I appeal to the experienced Reader, and heartily wifti 
thefe hintg may prove an occafion of his eftablifliment, 
that he may rejoice with them, in whom the word of the 
Lord abideth a feed of life everlafting ! 



LECTURE XYI. 

The source and symptoms of the pleasure which attends 
a cordial acceptance of the gospeL The duty of those 
'who embrace it to an immediate external obedience.—^ 
And the joy of true faiih compared with that which 
may be found with an hypocrite. 



TH E laft le£lure clofed with obferving that a faving 
reception of the gofpel is attended with joy. We 
now proceed to the fpring of this facred affeftion pecu- 
liar to them that are called ; which, together with th^ 



j8o L E C T U R E S O N 

attending fymptoms, the obligation on the fubjed to in- 
corporate himfelf among the vifible difciples of Jefus, and 
a word for the relief of enquiring fouls, will finifh our 
defign on the increafe of the church by the firft fermon 
preached after our Lord's refurre£lion. This enquiry is 
the more needful, fmce it appears from the parable of the 
fower, Matt. xiii. that there is a joy felt by fome who are 
void of fpiritual underftanding, and who have no root in 
themfelves, and therefore, however induced to a formal 
profeflion, under which, for a feafon, they may boaR ; 
they are at length offended, and perifli. Every confider- 
ate perfon would deprecate being deceived in a matter of 
fo great importance. And it may be, my Reader is wifli*- 
^ng to know that his joy is fubltantial and good. May 
this attempt to affift his enquiry be fucceeded, and prove 
% Jiappy means of our mutual fatisfa^lion and comfort 1 
Wt let it be remembered, that it is not effential to the 
charader of a believer, that he has been enabled to dif- 
tinguiih the bottom of his heart, or that he lhc^^|d view 
things in his own experience in the precife ombr laid 
down in the following obfervations. It is fufSciei^, dear 
dear Friend, that thou findeif in thyfelf the fubftaCce'of 
what is defcribed. This premiied, I go on to the enquiry 
propofed. 

And here I cannot but apprehend, that the grand and 
original fource of this divine joy is the glory of God, as 
it (bines forth in Chrift. This appears juft, both from 
fcripture and experience. That which is firll prefented 
to the mind, by the light of the gofpel, to engage a man 
to the obedience of faith, may I think be properly confi- 
dered as the leading fpring of his joy in the Lord; and 
what is this but " the glory of God in the face of his Son 
*^ Jefus Chrift?" 2 Gor. iv. 6. In the fame profpeda be- 
liever perfeveres. " We all with open face, as in aglafs, 
^'' behold the glory of the Lord," &c. chap. iii. 18. The en- 
lightened finner has a dire6l and true fight of the moral 
excellency and beauty of the gofpel. It is a reconciled 
God, whofe righteoufnefs is declared in the remiffion of 
fins, that fixes the heart ai^d fills it with gladnefs. He 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. i8i 

that has been troubled for fin as an offence againfh God, 
finds his reft, on a view of the harmony of all divine at- 
tributes in his redemption ; and it affords him unfpeak- 
able fatisfaftion and delighi, to behold the Almightv a juil 
God atid a Saviour, and that pardon and life everlailing 
are fet forth in a confonance with the majcll:)' and glory 
of God and his government. 

Now this joy is more or lefs felt antecedent to and 
irrefpeftive of his ovvnintereil in ti^is grace. So that the 
joy of a chriftian is rooted in the love of God, whofe 
glory is feen in his recovery from ruin. The word is re- 
ceived under a full perfuafion of its conformity to the 
divine wifdom and righteoufnefs ; and though the joy of 
the awakened fmner is not without fom.e hope of peribnal 
intereft in the Redeemer, or at lead of obtaining this fal- 
vation, yet the glory of the Lord, and the divine excel- 
lency of the things of the Spirit, is the firil: and immedi- 
ate fource of his gladnefs. Thus the joy of faith arifeth 
from its objecl. It is God in Clirift, who is the iniage of 
the Father, and in whom mercy and truth, and righteouf- 
nefs and peace, unite and mutually embrace, that yields 
him delight. And accordingly the joy of believers hath 
always ccntei'ed in God, Hence David ftilcs him, Pfalm 
xlii^; 4. my exceedingjoy ; or, as it may be read, the joy 
of my gladnefs. He that is juftified by faith '^ rejoices 
'' in the Lord, and his foul is joyful in his God,'* Ifa. 
Ixi. 10. And in Rom. v. 11. the apoille, fpeaking of the 
general experience of the faints, faith, '^ We alio joy in 
** God through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom we have 
" now received the atonement." The centre of joy is 
its fource. Joy naturally terminates in that out of which 
it originally arofe. Now the joy of the chriiVian is in 
God reconciled by the death of his Son ; the firft fpring 
of which was a profpe£l of peace by the blood of his crofs. 
A chriftian may not be able to diftinguilli this order of 
his affe£lions in a life of faith ; but, on examination, he 
will find in proportion to his light, that it takes its firil 
rife from a view of the glory of God in the perfon of 
Chrift, and the difplay there is in the gofpel, of the di- 



i8i LECTURES ON 

vine perfe(5lioDs in the deliverance and falvatian of fin« 
ners. 

The next fource of gladnefs in receiving the word is 
the hope of the fubje^lfor hirnfelf. The called are be- 
gotten to a lively hope of perfonal intereft in the falva- 
tion revealed ; for the illuminations of the Spirit corref- 
pond with the word of the golpel, in which every fenfi- 
ble linner is invited with an affurance of mercy, as in 
the inftance before us, ver. 38. Appropriation is eiTenti- 
al to faith, infomuch that however weak in its degree, 
there is no aft of believing, properly fpeaking, from the 
firft motions of the quickened (inner towards the Saviour 
, without it. Believing is trufting ; but there can be no. 
trufting without hope. In receiving the word by faith, 
there is included an application to Chrifl, and of the peace 
he hath made ; and confequently the fubjeft applies to 
hirnfelf the grace and glory which are the purchafe of 
his blood. And accordingly, from the beginning, the gof- 
pel is treafured up or hid in the heart. He that receiveth 
the word of the kingdom receiveth it for hirnfelf, and lay- 
eth it up as his property, riches and life. Hence fprings 
his joy ; this God ; is his God this Jefus is his Saviour ; 
and that he hath a right to claim in the promife of grace^ 
At leaft without fome degree of hope there can be no 
joy; but gladnefs attends a receiving of the word, in pro- 
portion to the intereft and advantage the called apprehend 
themfelves to have in the glorious gofpel of Chrift ; and 
and unfpeakable is his advarilage ; for, " of him are ye 
" in Chrift Jefus, who of God is made unto us wifdom, 
*' and righteoufnefs, and f^mdlification and redemption,'* 
I Cor. i. 30. In this prolpeft, may not the believer well 
exult, and, like the eunucii who was converted by the 
preaching of Philip, having put on Chrift, proceed in his 
way rejoicing ? 

Another fpring of this facred affeftion in the believer, 
is the happy diiFerence which he finds and feels in hirnfelf. 
A ftranger intermeddles not with this joy ; nor is it in the 
power of a carnal mind to conceive the blcffed alteratioa 






[PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 1^3 

which a receiv'ed gofpel makes in the foul. While a fm- 
ner lies under convi£lion of guilt, felf- condemned and ready 
toperifh, his troubles are great, he is filled with darknefs, 
and diftrefs ; and in fome inflances the tormenting fears 
of wrath have been exquifitely great, like thofe Jerufalem- 
finners, whofe hearts, we have feen, were pierced as with 
daggers or fwords. Their cafe indeed was fome what pe- 
culiar ; but the evil of fm in the confcience will ever break 
the peace of the foul ; and for the mod part, the terrors 
of a broken law, and the apprehen(ions of ruin, for a fea- 
fon greatly dillurb the awakened tranfgreflTor. And with 
refpe^l to thofe who are feeking relief for their fouls ffiort 
of Chrift and his righteoufnefs, their minds are iHll*dif- 
fatisfied : If they flatter themfelves awhile, fome freili 
excurfion of lin, ordefeAin duty, plunges them into the 
ditch, and they ^re again in dillrefs. But v*^hen God 
fliines into the foul, and gives the light of his glory in 
Chrift, O the liberty, peace and courage, that poffefTeS 
the mind ! This binds up the heart, comforts the mourner, 
and fets the captive free. Now, juftified by faith, the 
iinner hath peace with God. He is folaced with divine 
love ; and, being thus healed and reftored, finds that reft, 
which a faithful Saviour has promifed to all who are wcaiy 
and heavy laden, on coming to him, and feels himfelf chear- 
ful. 

Finally. A certain profpe£l of glory enhances the joy 
of the faithful. The falvation in Chrift, which a believer 
apprehends, includes a glory to come, in the fruition of 
which he fhall be happy for ever. Hence we are faid to 
be " called unto eternal glory ,"*' and " begotten by the 
'* refurre£lion of Chrift from the dead, unto a lively hope 
** of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and which 
*' fadeth not away." Chriftians in this are conformed to 
their head, the Meffiah, who in prophecy fays, *^There- 
" fore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth," Pfalm 
xvi. 9. And, whence this joy of the Redeemer ? He adds, 
"■. Thou wilt (hew me the path of life." In like manner 
the believer is infpired. A view of his glory with Chrift 
£lls him with glndnefs. Nor is this at all incoufiftent 



i84 L E C T U R E S O N 

with the believer's joy firft arifing from a fight of the 
glory of God, and terminating in the Lord, fince that 
glory in the hope ^^f which he rejoices lies in his being 
with Gcd, to behold his face in righteoufnefs, to be filled 
with his love, and to celebrate his praife. Such was the 
expectation of the Meifiah himfelf, in the pafTage laft men- 
tioned : " In thy prel'ence is fulnefs of joy, and at thy 
*' right hand are pleafures for evermore." 

Thefe are the fprings of gladnefs in the heart of him 
who receives the word, or believt^s in the Lord Jefus 
Chrift. It takes its rife from a view of the glory of God 
in him, the beauty of which attra£ls the beholder ; for, 
however ftrange or difagreeable the gofpel may be to a 
natural man, nothing is more glorious in itfelf, or more 
fuited to the tafte and defire of him that is fpiritual. He 
rejoices in the divine wifdom, holinefs and righteoufnefs, 
v/hich fiiine in his jufti^cation, through faith in the Re- 
deemer. Thus the gofpel is firft received as it is in itfelf, 
glorious and excellent. And though this is not without 
hope of an intereft in the falvation revealed, yet a difco- 
very of the divine glory in this provifion of grace firft 
ftrikes the mind of him that is called, whofe pleafure in- 
creafes on a view of his perfonal advantage, which toge- 
ther with the fweet alteration the peace of God makes in 
his heart, lately troubled with fm, and the profpeftof life 
everlafting fills him with joy. Now all thefe are more 
or lefs experienced by the faithful. No wonder, theq, 
that the word is gladly received. Can the man be other- 
wife than glad, who beholds tlie glory of Goddifplayed in 
the falvation of his f nil ? Or fliail he who is relieved 
from the forrows of a wounded confcience, and the ter- 
rors of divine wrath, being cleanfed with the blood of 
Chrilt, who is now formed in him th.e hope of glory, fail 
of rejoicing? Certainly no. i\Iay this joy in the falvation 
of God, my dear Friend, be the ftrength of our heart, that 
perfevering in the fruits of holinefs, we may attain to per- 
fedion in the world to come 1 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY.. 1&5 . 

Now whoever has found this joy arife in his heart, tbr^ 
him the word of the gofpel is precious ; he efteems it aai/' 
excellent in.itfelf,.and as the means of his own farvation,^'iI 
It is therefore more than his neceffary food. Job xxiiiV ^^ 
1 3. more to be defired than gold, yea than much fine gold ; 
fweeter alfo than honey or the honeycomb, Pfalm xix. 10. 
Hence young converts give themlelves to reading and 
meditation, and delight in the company of thofe who are 1: 
ready, to difcourfe on fpiritual fubjeds. They alfo take r, 
every opportunity of hearing, to be deprived of v/hich ■■ 
would be as a famine to their fouls. This delight in the ^ 
law of God is frequently feen to abate, yea and, it may 
be, that very foon, which is juftly lamented ; and they • 
who have forgot the love of their efpoufals, do well to 
look back to the kindnefs of their youth, and remember 
how they firft received and hear4, and hold faft and repent. 
Rev. iii. 3.; > But if any man defpifes the word of the 
Lord, or thinks its miniftration needlefs for him, under a 
conceit of what he hath already attained, he is proudj 
knowing nothing, and hath need to beware that he deceives 
not himfelf among thofe who receive not the love of the 
truth ; for where that abides in the heart, the preaching .. 
of the gofpel is highly efteemed, and the preachers in Con- , 
fequence, which is another fymptom of gladly receiving 
the word, as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet 
*' of them that preach the gofpel of peace, and bring gkd 
" tidings of good things I" Rom, x. 15. Faithful minif- 
ters of Chrift are hated and defpifed by the enemies of 
t;he truth ; but it is the property of thofe who believe to 
efteem them. And however they are treated by fome 
who pretend to this faith, it is certain that they are highly 
acceptable to them in whom it prevails. And this is per- 
fedly natural, fmcebefides the pleafure and advantage they 
themfelves find in hearing, it is a genuine, and indeed one- 
of the firft and moft fenfible fymptoms of embracing the 
gofpel, to with it might be the power of God to the falva- 
tion of others. The fame difpofition is feen in ev^ry one in 
whom God has fhined, which difcovered itfelf in the wo- 
man of Samaria j having found Ghrift, and been enabled 

Z 



i84 LIE CiTU R E S vO N^ 

to truft' him, he woiild' nejjpice at hb beiftg revealbd to aft 
with whom he isicoiine'^Qd,that they mii;ht'alfd iyelieve. 
In a wordi, iiadec the Muenoeof this diviue jeiy,fi5eltevig)t*4t^ • 
are bold <to;:.caia&fe the Lard f efus, and to daolare ith^ir' ' 
expen^rwreof hrs:iD\^e. ■ Tbi's py is 46 the light : &frtli4 ' 
mornings which iifperfeth lihtf ^clouds'; thei fears whtehr 
ov^rfliadaw and' mtrnnidace the miqd through; ignoraruseV 
uiihelief imdcalmair^afoti, vaniifli before kyawd^ a jfrei^dW^ 
and courage poIT^ires the fiibje/Sb, who no lofxger wili cdn- 'r 
lult flefh and hl'oradr'biiC'relfolA^eS' m obierve ev^r^^^gofpttU > 
inftitutioai Thifs.no fooner did thefie dlfoiples jemlbbaw:©^' 
the golpel, but thsyopenly and joyfuliy jmned to the Lord, " 
though it called for the immediate and certain e-xpsSnce of - 
all that they had, and was even at the hazard of their ' 
lires. 

This leads to the reafons^for an immediate and ohearfal 
compUance with the appcvifttiments <-^f the Redeemer. Obe- 
dience to Ghriftisiof infinite importance. Th^peis fftL> 
vation in no bthier ; nor afty other way of b^iog laved by 
Jefus but though faith in him. We hop^ that many who 
are not in a profefled iiabje^ion to his gofpel, yet believe 
on his name. But how uvieo^ttely in'a chriiliannottohe 
cDnformed to the undoubted wiU -of his Lordi Indeed this 
is fo againft the natural teftdenciy oif tfiith, find the gcrtu- 
iae infill efjce of divine io>v'e,-iJi t'be remiflion-bf fims, that ' 
one would be apt to conelude that the'rubje^ coiald iibc' 
allow hirafelf, on any conlidierAtion'whatever, to fall-ftiert^ 
cyf the leaft command of his Saviour; yet, alas, weha^vj©-" 
reafon to lament, that, in all appearance, «iany who have 
tafted that the' Lord is gracious, through one uTihappy 
occafion and another, prefume to live in the omiffion of 
what is enjoined them I And, Reader, art thou in thi« 
way ? Allow me to prefs thee ; examine thyfelf,^nd-Obeyf 
thy Redeemer in all things : remember what Peter de-* 
clafes, *' This fame Jefus God hatii made both Lor-d a^nd 
'' Ghrift." It is Ti6t the forgetful hearer of the word, 
but the doer of the work: "This man, fays the apc^^tle, 
« fiiall be bleffed in his deed.'* Faith without fruit will 
as furelv deceive thee as an heart! cfs obedience : A gene- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. -187 

ral flight/ of that open confeffion of Ghrift befoi'c mew, 
among thofe who fit under the word, may render thee in- 
different about it; but it w tit be found a thing of the 
greateft importance when the Son of maii ftiall confefs 
bis faithful difciples before the angels of God. Aiid.it 
ihould further be noted, that a perfonal fubje6\ion to j^fiis 
is, by the teftimony-of God, eiienti-di to the Gbara(Sler of 
him that may hope for the falvation revealed in the gof- 
^pel. 

It is a glorious truth, that t'be gofpel is the *' power of 
*' God unto falvation to every one that beliereth :" But 
then we are to remember that chriftian baptifm,.and a corv 
formity to the order of the gofpel, belongs to the obe- 
dience of faith, which indeed comprehends more, but not 
lefs, than a regard to every external a6l of homage to the 
jSaviour, From this, and many other confiderations"*, the 
folly of negleiling divine appointments is manifetl. An 
Attempt to convince men of this may now fefem. abortive 
and vain ; but certainly he who in the end is found to hava 
defpifed, orfliunned the Redeemer's commands, will hav* 
no reafon to gloty at his appearatace and kingdom. TI10 
man whofe confciertce tells him that he has wilfully omit- 
ted and lived in a negleft of any known inftitation of Jefus^ 
will find his heart fail him at the approadh of hi& j^idg^ j 
kit he that abides in Chrift m^y have con fiWti^jfey.fo^jfefe: 
fhall not be aftjamed before bim ftt-ilis coming^lixr/piq i) li'i^ 
. : .•!;-•:-'' li; . '■■!: of il"; roJii .: 

As a further inducement t<?be foumdinche'WxJjyiQf^biLr 
dience, I intreat the Readei', who ttutb iivthe iLord jefu*- 
Chrift, will allow me to urge the following p^rtiOulargup-' 
on him: 

I. Thou art certainly qualified for thi& gofp^^l^fervit^e. 
Is the queftion whether thy years^ Coixliti^n in If^fe^ or iH- 
tainment in knowledge, faith and love, come up to What i»' 
required in the difciptes of Chrii^ i The anfwer is at harid: 
'* If thou believeft with ^U thine lieart, thou m?iye(l,^' A6is 

' * FoHy of ncgle<5ling divine inffitut/ons, publiflicd 1758. 



i88 L E C T U R E^B/IQ N 

viii. 37. A meetnefs for thefe holy appointments dependsnot 
on any particular age or wordly circumftances, no nor on 
■fingular advances in a ftate of grace. All that they require, 
is anew heart, and manifeft repentance and faith, without 
which no man can be faved. And if thou art qualified 
■through grace, muft not thy eonfcience condemn thee for 
omitting thy Redeemer's commands ? 

' ■ ■ ■ 
2. It is abfolutely required at thy hands. " Repent, and 
" be baptized," is the voice of Chrift in his gofpel to the 
end of the world. No man that tf ufts in the Lord is on 
any account excepted from an obligation to confefs him. 
AlLand every one who looks to Jefus for life, is enjoined 
in his word to be, baptized in his name, and wilt thou with- 
Hand the united demand of his authority and love ? 

Moreover, the example of the faithful call for thine 
obedience*. It was the univerfal practice of the primitive 
difciples. Of the multitude converted in the apoftlea 
time, not one appears to delay this profeffion, Saul only 
excepted,. and he flands juftly reproved. It becomes thee 
to imitate their zeal. We are to follow them in the path 
of duty as well as of fuffering. And indeed no kind of 
fufFerings endured otherwife than under this profeffion, 
hath a dire6l tendency to glorify Chrift, or to prove our 
faith in him. But, we have feen that when the gofpel 
iirft prevailed, converts were manifeft by their immediate! 
recourfe to the minifters of Chrift, they willingly oflTered 
themfelves for baptifm, and to be joined with the church, 
and did not, as many now do, linger and halt year after 
year, as if a profeffion of Jefus was a matter of indifferency 
or prefumption, but they made hafte and delayed not, and 
in all appearance thought a day loft not fpent under Chrift, 
and this they did in the midft of temptations and fiery trials, 
Now, if it became them thus, at the hazard of every thing 
dear in this world, to put on Chrift, fhall any inthepre- 
fent day, who in the general, run no fuch danger to the 
llefli, with decency negleAit? But, alas, the fcepticifm 
and lukewarmnefs that abounds, more efFeftually and fa- 
tally quenches our z^sl for the ordinances of the Lord, 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 189 

Jtban the fevereft perfecutions for confcience-fake. This 
the experience of all ages hath too plainly verified; which 
fhews the perverfenels of our natural Ipirits, and may 

juftly fill us 'with blufhing, while we blefs God for the ex- 
ternal peace and liberty we enjoy. But again, 

4. It is thy honor and advantage to be under this holy 
profefllon. However defpiled by the world, can any 
thing be more truly praife-worthy than to be a difciple 
of Jefus ? If relative honor in any charadler is in propor- 
tion to the dignity of him with whom we are connected, 
as moft certainly it is, who can vie with the chriftian, or 
what more honorable than his profeffion ? To be a real 
and vifible difciple of the Son of God, and a follower of 
the Lamb, who is exalted in the midft of the, throne in 
the heavens, far above all, muft be an honor indeed, infi- 
nitely furpaffing the moft noble alliance or connexion on 
earth. It is for want of difcerning the glory of Chrift, 
that any are backward to give the moft evident proof of 
their fubjedion to his authority. A due fenfe of this in 
the heart will make a man count it an honor to be vile in 
the eyes of the v/orld for his name's fake. No man need 
be alhamed of the gofpel of Chrift who is not a ftiame to it, 
but adorns the dodrine of his Saviour. And further, 

5. To be baptized into Chrift is as it were to have his 
Father's name written in our foreheads, Rev. xiv. i. for 
we are all the children of God by faith in Chrift Jefus, the 
honor of which is not to be exprefled. Nor is it lefs an 
advantage to be walking in Chrift. This right or privi- 
lege is profitable to him that believes, and therefore to be 
highly efteemed. If we may credit the fcripture of truth, 
and the declared experience of the faithful, there is a re- 
ward in walking blamelefs in the ordinances of the Lord ; 
it is fo in point of knowledge, preteclion, comfort and joy, 
in communion with God and his people ; all which mult. 
be exceeding precious to him that is fpiritual. And are 
not theie motives fufficient to engage thy chearful lUb- 
mifiion to Jefus > If any thing further is needful to convince 
thecj^onfider, 



I90 L E C T U R E S O N 

« 
6. On the contrary, the many difadvantages that attend 
a non-conformicy to the evident and undeniable appoint- 
inents of the Redeemer. In thisftate, as hinted already, 
the fubjeft can yield no fuificient proof of his faith. A 
man may believe ,- but no man can Iliew that he believes 
in a negle^l of the Saviour's inftitutions, which are ground- 
ed in his authority, and a teft of the foul's obedience Unto 
him. By this omiffion alfo a perfon falls ihort of the clm,- 
ra^ler of him unto whom the promife of faWation is given*, 
wbkh one wouldthink fhouM alarm the manwhodefires to 
be faved. And further, he that lives out of this order excludes 
himfelf from ot-herpreciousprcwnifes, andisnot in tbeordi-i- 
nary way of communion wiih God, and confequently it 
cffe^s his peace, holinefs, joy and love, all which are 
greatly promoted in this divine fellowfbip. In a word, he 
is much exj,x)fed in- an hour of temptation. One fpeciou$ 
cxcufe which iome make for ftiunning a chriftian pr^fefiioii 
is this, that they are afraid they ftiall prove a dilhonor un- 
to it. But, not to infift on the power of Cbrift to keep his 
faithful difciples from falling, which is hereby overlook* 
ed, the objection fuppofes that a perfon is obliged by this 
Jioly order to walk with greater circumfpe£lion than him 
who is not under the fame ; but, is this an argument with 
one tliat fears God to julHfy a negledl of bis precepts ?■ 
Shall the man who follows after holinefs, deprive himfelf of 
this facred guard by refusing to comply with the plain in- 
ftitutions of his Lord? Or, fliall be not readily come un- 
der every pofiible obligation againil fm? Reafoiis for a be- 
liever being baptized and added to this church might eafi- 
ly be multiplied, but thefe may fuffice: He is qualified j 
it is required at his hands: This was the univerfal prac- 
tice of thofe who were called from the beginning ;- and the 
honor and advantage of walking under this profeffion is 
gi'eat and unfpeakable. On the other hand, ndlefiSare 
tiie diiadvant ages of not being conformed to tbis- order. 
If thefe prevail not with the Reader t©- be found in this 
duty, what hope can I have of fucceeding? Imuftleave^ 
him to the mercies of the Lord, whofe people (ball be wiJU 
m^ ih' the d-ay of bi« power. 



f 



f PRIMI'^'IVE GHMSTIA^lTY. 191 

®iit pdrhaps'the Reader- is doubting his ftate, and rea- 
dy to fay; True; I cann-ot but own that the word of 
of the Lord has come with fome' power into my heart. 
My aflfe^ions have fon^etimes been raifed,and I have felt 
a joy ill heaHng the gofpel ; but, alas, I am fttll fo carnal 
and fenfual, and find fo' little of the love of God in my 
lotil, 'that I fear my tranfitory delight is no other than 
may be found' with an hypotritfe. This may alfo be the 
fear of cine -who has already made a pro fe (lion, in confe- 
qti«hd8 of-#h^chhe is^fbmet'tfnes filled with diftrefs. 

To relieve the enquiring foul, Ifhall dofe this lefture 
with a criterion or two, by which we may diftinguiih be- 
tween the joy of the hypocrite, and that of a true believ- 
er. 

And from what has been laid, it appears that the hy- 
potrite's joy is in himfelf: whereas we have feen, that 
the firft fprihgof joy in him that receiveth the word is 11^' 
Grod. The joy of the hypocrite primarily arifeth from a 
coi*ifident and high conceit of his good Itate, without any 
reafon from fcripture, but purely from his own imaginati- 
on. H^ is unacquainted with forrow for fin, and not du- 
ly affefted with the wifdom and righteoufnefs of God in 
our redemption by the blood of his Son. He is taken Up 
in felf-admiration, and continually boafting of his gre^it 
experience, and how religious he is. Not fo the man in 
Mrh<2wn the word is efFeftual unto the obedience of faith. 
The love of God is at the bottom of that man's profeffion, 
which is in proportion to the abundance of grace he has 
received in the remifTion of fins. And as the nature of fin 
is more his averfion, than the puniOiruent thereof; fo, as 
hath been ftiewn, he delights firft and chiefly in the gloiy 
of God, the excellency of Chrift and his gofpel, while he 
rfejoices in the faving advantage he obtains from this pro- 
vilion Qf infinite wifdom and love. Again, 

Hence the joy of a falfe profeflbris attended with felf- 
esaltation, and renders him light and prefumptuous ; he 
m piwud of his attainmenis ; ^nd while he thinks that he 



ftands,' the man wiiofe foot is ready to flip,, is as a Iaiflf|i 
defpifed in his fight; thus he is haughty, carelefs of his 
own condu6l, cenforious. of others. On the contrary,; fthe ■, 
chriftian's joy, which proceeds from a view of the right- T 
eoufnefs of God in the pardon of his fins ; the evil, apd,; 
bitternefs of which -he hath felt in his confcience, i^ at* . 
tended with humility, reverence^and an holy concern for [ 
the honor of God. His jqy is mingled in hisheaprt.withr 
evangelical forrow. He is low in his own eyes ; has com- i 
paiiion for them that are out^ of the \yay, is fober in his . 
account of himfelf, and in this ftate of fm and temptation 
rojoiceth w,^th trembling, 

,^J^d further, in the , midft of a,H hi? yain glory,^ the by'» ; 
pochte is barren. " But (faith our Lord) he that receiv- , 
*' eth feed into the good ground, is he that heareth the 
'• word and underftandeth it, which alfo beareth fruit," 
Matt, xiii, 23. He that rejoiceth in his own attainment 
is an empty vine, and brings forth fruit unto himfelf. But -' 
the chrillian's joy, which iprings from the love of God, 
naturally yieldeth fruit unto him, as it is written, " But 
" now being made free from fm, and become the fervants 
" of God, ye have your fruit unto holinefs, and the end 
*^ everlafting life," Rom. vi. aa. which leads to another 
criterion, and the laft I ihall mention, which is this : 

The joy of the hypocrite is tranfitory, whereas that 
of the chriftian abides. I mean in refpe6b of its princi- 
ple and habit in the foul, for his frame is liable to change. 
Nothing is more uncertain and fleeting than his joy who 
has no root in himfelf. The man, whofe profeflion is not 
grounded in the love of God, will furely be oftended. But 
he that has received the gofpel into his heart by faith, 
though in heavinefs for a feafon through manifold tempt- 
ations, has an unfailing fource of joy in the immutable 
counfel and favor of the Almighty, and may alvyays re- 
joice in the Lord. In a view of the glory and importance 
of the divineword, and his own interell in the bleflings 
of grace, he fnall not be moved, but will hold out to the 
end 3^nd be faved. " The water (fays our Lord) that I 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 193 

" ihall give him, fliall be in him a well of water fpring- 
" ingup into etemallife," John vi. 14. This is the joy 
of faith ; it centers in God ; it makes a man humble and 
fruitful ; and it abides in the foul. But carnal rejoicing, 
though occaiioned by the word, arifeth from fome other 
confideration than divine grace and righteoufnefs, and ter- 
minates infelf J it pufFs up the fubjedt, who is unfruitful, 
and will fail in an hour of trial. Bear Reader, examine 
thyfelf ; " for who is wife, and he (hall underfland thefe 
" things ? prudent, and he ihall know them ? For the 
" ways of the Lord are right, and the juft (hall walk in 
" them, but the tranfgreffers feall fall therein." Having 
this teftimony that thy joy is in the Lord, fear not, though 
now thou mayeft have ibrrpw, thine heart fliall rejoice, 
and thy joy no man taketh from thee j for " light is fown 
*^ for the righteous, and gladnefs for the upright ia 
« heart." 



PRIMITIVE 



Aa 



Primitive Chriftianity. 



BOOK IV. 



BEING 

An Hiftory of the Church in her infant State, 



LECTURE XVII. 

'Ihe constancy and faithfulness of the first disciples in 
their communion together^ under a profession of Christ- 
ianity, 

OF all hiflories, that of the fcripture juftly claims 
the pre-eminence. Its undoubted veracity, with 
the importance of its various and wonderful events, and 
efpecially when joined to the noble and gracious defign of 
its glorious A-Uthor, which is to promote the honor of 
God, and the falvation and happinefs of man, challenge 
our higheft regard.^ 

* Properly fpeaking, the Author of fcripture is God, and particularly 
the Holy Ghoft, by whofe infpiration the prophefics Avere fpoken, and un- 
der whofe infallible diredion both the hillory and prophecy of thofe facred 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 195 

Scripture may be confidered as an univerfal hiftory of 
the world, and the church, but efpecially of the latter, in' 
which the do<^rines, precepts and ordinances of God, and. 
the practice of men are faithfully recited. Thus theOld- 
Teftament is the beft hiftory of the world from its crear 
lion, including the fall of man, the counl'el of God relating 
to the recovery of his chofen by the feed of the woman; 
alfo the methods of divine providence in raifmg and.pre- 
fervin^ a godly feed, amidft the corruption and defolations 
of mankind, till the Meffiah came. It is therefore like- 
wife a hiftory of the church, which is carried on in the 
New-Teft^ment, beginning, in the four evangelifts, with 
the incarnation of the Son of God, whofe life, miniftry, 
fufferings, death, and refurre6lion from the dead, are con- 
cifely, but fully fet forth, and with this view, " that ye 
" might believe that Jefus is the Chrift the Son of God, 
'^ and that believing ye might have life through his name." 
Johnxxt. 3iv . :i:^,quI]woIbl ^li::■ 

The feme defign is purfued in the remaining part of the 
fcripture to the end. Now of this divine narration no part 
is of greater importance to the church than the A£ls of 
the Apoftles, which contain an authentic account of the 
rife and progrefs of chriftianity in the world ; fo that thefe 
writings, with the addition of the epiftles, and the book 
of Revelation, which clofes the facred canon, alone afford 
a genuine and compleac hiftory of the purity in doclrine, 
worfliip and difcipline, which prevailed among the firft 
chriftians, who are the faireft example of fecial religion. 

This then is the true e-cclefiaftical hiftory, to which all 
others wrote: after the days of the apoftles muft be fubor- 
dinate, and an acquaintance with which is to be efteemed 
one branch of a chriilian's attainment, as a conformity un- 



wrltings were penned, and committed to the church. This, no doubt, 
i* the prevailing lentiment, notwithftanding it is fo much the cuftom to 
give this charatfter to the apoftles and others, who were the emanuenfis 
of the divine Spirit, or writers rather than authors of the books an4 
epiftles to which their names are affixed. 



196 L £ C T U R £ S O N 

to it is &, part of hi« character. And it were heartily to 
be wifhed, that every one, who profefleth himleif a fol-^ 
Iftwer of the Lamb, made it his diligent ftudy. In all 
probability we fhould then be more united in faith and 
worfhip, and animated to a more holy, fpiritual and order- 
ly temper and condu<!t, and alfo love one another moro 
tiian at prefent in all appearance we do. I fliall therefore 
count it a mercy if this little (ketch ftiould be an occafion 
of proihoting the knowledge of fo ufeful a part of divine 
revelation, ojra means of reviving the true fpirit of primi- 
tive godlinefs. ^ ::i i' ; 

The paragraph on which I have planned itiiydefigTi 19 
contained in the laft fix verfes of the fecotid of tk\p ABls^ 
which rilti in the following words ; 

" And they continued ftedfaftly in the apoftles do£ltine 
«* and fellowftiip, and in breaking of bread, and io prayer^. 
" And fear came upon every foul, and many wonders and 
" figns were done by the apoftles. And all that believed 
*' were together, and had all things common. And fold 
** their pofieffions and goods, and parted them to all men, 
** as every man had need. And they continuing daily 
** . with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from 
*? houfe to houfe, did eat their meat with gladnefs and 
*f finglenefs of heart, praifing God, and having favor with 
" all the people. And the Lord added to the church 
*.f daily fuch as ftiould be faved.'* 

Here then is a concife hiftory of the primitive church 
i<n her pure infant ftate, before her members were fcatter- 
edby perfecution, orthofe errors, divifions and apoftafies 
took place, which hath fmce difgraced and defiled her.r 
Indeed ftie was not yet arrived to maturity, in refpeftof 
that order the infinite wifdom of her Lord foon after faw 
fit to eftablifh for her edification. At prefent the apoftles 
fupplied the part of biftiopS and deacons, officers who are 
fmce become needful to a perfeA church-ftate. We view 
her as a lovely child, in her firft appearance in the world. 
There are alfo fome circumftances peculiar to her then 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 197 

prefent condition, a pretended conformity to which would 
be ridiculou6 or worfe, yet (he is the original pattern of 
piety and love. Thefe are the lively features of a neat 
gof pel -char ch, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the 
comforts of the Holy Ghoft ; and however fome may 
plead for another manner, the fame fpirit and behaviour 
will be found when and where genuine chriftianity pre- 
vails., for reiigion is fubftantially the fame in all ages and 
places to the end of the world. 

The account divides itfelf, naturally into three general 
branches. 

I. The conftancy and faithfulnels of the primitive dif- 
ciples in communion together, under a profeffion of the 
gofpel. 

II. Their manner of life. And, 

III. Their daily increafe. 

The enfuing part of the le(flure will contain a review 
of the firft of thefe articles. We are told that they 
continued sti^clf as tiy ; and the particular inftances are giv- 
en in which tbey perfevered with fo great reiclution 
and zeal. 

It is faid that they continued. Some nominal chriftians, 
like fieed fown in ftony ground, hear the word, and re- 
ceive it with a kind of joy ; but, having no root in them- 
felves, their religion is foon at an end. Indeed, flufhed 
with a conceit of their knowledge, they prefume they 
belong to the kingdom of God, and haftiiy fpring up in a 
promifmg blade of external obedience, in which they are 
zealous awhile, but alas they abide not ; their goodnefs is 
as the morning-cloud, and as the early dew it paffeth away ; 
thus tranfient is their form of chriftianity. Here and 
there one who fets out with a fliew, foon itumble and re- 
cover, or falling, rife up again ; but from the parable of 
the fewer, and from general cxp<;rience, it appears thai 



igS LECTURES ON 

few are reilored, whofe ihining profeffion prefently iffues 
ijQ a lliameful departure from God. For the moft.part 
they leem given upto the delufions of Satan, and being hard- 
ened through the deceitfuhiefs of fm^ become final apof- 
lates ; ib that however in fome inftances fuch may have 
grace to repent, for their cafe is not defperate, we have 
reaibn to tremble for them w^ho quickly throw off the 
name of Chrift, and return to their fms, as in the higheft- 
danger of ruin. Not fo th.efe difciples ; they continued 
in the ways of the Lord, and proved the fincerity of their 
Ibve. Again, 

They continued stedfasily. If fome foon apoftatize, ma- 
ny more, wh.o begin: with a flaming, zeal, are quickly 
iukewarm, loofe and diforderly, under the profeffion they 
hold. Hence they becom.e ina6live and barren ; and, in 
their fpirit and behaviour, fall ihort of the character they 
bear. A man may prefently take up the name of a chrifti- 
sn, with whom it may not be eafv to drop it, in a country 
the inhabitants of which are Aonfidered as chriftians, ex- 
cept thoie who exprefsly and openly deny the very name^ 
as Turks, Jews ajid JDeilts, to which boldnefs but few com- 
par^tiyely attain. , It is difficult to throw off the garb of. 
religion ;, and rarielyfeen that he who hath put himfelf 
iindera form- of chriflianify, and joined to any particular 
church, is fond of yielding up his character, though alas 
he may be far from aiming at a converfation becoming 
the goi'pel of Chrift, but in many refpefts behave unwor- 
thy his heavenly calling, hifoiuuch that it may be fcarce-; 
ly tolerable for him to be continued in the communion of 
iaints. But the difciples at Jerufalem not only made a 
profeffion but continued stedfastly therein : the Greek word 
in the original, is very emphatical, and carries in it jan 
invincible conftancy, alluding to hunters who ccafe 
not to follow till they have got their purfuit: it fignifies 
not barely perfeverance, but to perfevere with ilrength, 
jo as to increafe in their attendance, zeal and courage in 
the, ways of the Lord. Thus; inilead of declining and be-i 
coming lukewarm, thefe primitive chriflians waxed bolder, 
and flronger, and exerted themfelves Ifill more and mpr^ ; 



PRIMITIVE CHmSTIANITY. 199 

for the expreilion here ul'ed, regards not only the time, but 
aUo the temper, with which they adhered to their pro feflion, 
and points out their importunity and deiire in this perfe-' 
verance: So the word is ufed, Rqm. xii. 12,. cont'muing 
instant in prayer ; where it'refpefts not barely the time 
of praying, but likewife and chiefly, the fervent manntf 
4n which it becomes us to wreftle with God. Thus thefe 
<lilciples continued; they applied themlelves with ear- 
neftnefs to every branch and duty of their profeffion, and 
held fad the fame without wavering ; being patient, watch- 
ful and adive, they preffed forward, and made daily ad- 
vances towards a perfection in the things which pertained 
to the kingdom of God. How noble the example! and 
what a reflexion on them who are unfruitful and fickle, 
and who, being led away with the wicked, fall from theic 
own ftedfaftnefs I But bleffed and honorable are thofe 
who cleave to the Lord with purpofe of heart. 

The particulars in which thefe chriilians perfevered 
in fo laudable a manner are recited as follows ; 

Firft, in the apostles doSirine^ i. e. the do£lrines they 
taught, which were truly the doftrines of Chrift and not 
of the apoftles invention. The gofpel is not the word of 
man, but of God. The apoftles were only miniilers of 
Chrift, and fpake the wholefome words of Jefus their Lord, 
neverthelefs it is ftiled the apoftles do6lrine ; as Paul, 
who affumed nothing to himfelf, but was ever deeply af- 
fected with his unworthinefs to preach it, calls it his gof- 
pel, becaufe the miniftration thereof was committed to 
him : And it may alfo be ftiled their doCtrine in oppofition 
to the falfe notions fpread abroad by fome who perverted 
the gofpel of Chrift. DoClrine here is no other than the 
faith once delivered to the faints, under which all the pre- 
cious truths af the glorious gofpel are included ; in gene- 
tal it was Jefus and the refurre(£tion ; a new and ftrange 
doClrine to the world, yet it was no other than Mofes and 
the prophets did fay Ihouldcome, A6ls xvii. 19. and chap. 
Xxvi. ^%. compared. The fubftance of this gofpel was 
publiftied ©f old, though, aot being mixed with faitli in ma- 



aoo t E C t U R E !^ N ' 

ny that heard, it did not profit or fave them, and they pef^ 
ifhed in their fms ; which awful account is to warn u# 
that we receive not the grace of God in vain. Since the 
coming of Chrifl:, this grace has been more fully manifeft- 
ed by his own preaching, and that of his infpircd apoftled| 
whofe do<^rine included every thing revealed concerning . 
the eternal purpofe of the Father, and the covenant of re». 
demption, wherein is laid out the methods of divine wify 
dom and love in the falvation of the chofen, through faitli 
in Chrift Jefus : So that the apoftles do£lrine takes ift 
whatever relates to the Redeemer's perfon, mediatorial 
character, facrifice, righteoufnefs, grace and obedience of 
faith, which includes the office of the Spirit, and in a word 
the whole cpunfel of God. Many errors were foon intro- 
duced, as hinted already, by which not a few were deceiv- 
ed and corrupted ; but the apoftles adhered to the truth^ 
and united in their report without variation. Their doc- 
trine was fimple and pure; it was not divers, as among 
the falfe teachers, not yea and nay, but uniform, confiftfent 
and one ; which may be another reafon for its being thus 
ftiled : They one and all preached the fame gofpel in eve- 
ry place. Now it is declared that the primitive chrifti- 
ans continued ftedfaftly in this apoftolic do£lrine : And this 
denotes in the firft place, their open and bold profeflion 
of the fame. When found doarine falls into difgrace, 
and becomes oppofed and defpifed, many are unwilling to 
own it, and are tempted to hide their conviction of its rea- 
lity and importance ; but thefe difciples were not aiham- 
ed of the gofpel of Chrift, it had been the power of God to 
their falvation ; they therefore held faft this profeflion of 
their faith without wavering, and perfevered in their wit- 
nefs to the truth. Again, it may intend their diligence 
in hearing this do£lrine, which indeed ftands conneded 
with the former. Hearing the word is not only the means 
of increafmg in fpiritual knowledge, but alfo one manner 
of teftifying a regard for the gofpel : So that the man who 
negleCls' it, not only betrays a conceit of himfelf, but 
hereby, in ferae meafure, drops his profeflion. Not fo 
thofe difciples, they continued with conftancy under the 
preaching of the word, as became them who would attain i 



PRIiYITIVE CHRISTIANITY. aoi 

to all riches af the full aflurance of underftatiding to the 
acknowledgment of the myftery of God, and of the Father, 
and of Chrift, that they might be built up and ellabliQied 
in the faith, as they had been taught ; by which example 
they condemn all thofe who are indifferent about hearing 
the word of the Lord, and are not ftudicus to grow in 
grace and in the knowledge of Chrift : If fuch have not the 
love of God in them, they are not likely to be ftedfaft or 
fH^itful in their profeiTion, but rather to be carried about 
with every wind of falfe do£lrine, and vain imagination of 
them who lay in wait to deceive; fuch are in very great 
danger of falling, and have need to beware. Thus they 
continued ftedfaftly, i. e. fwerved not from their profefli- 
on of the truth, or attendance on the miniftration of it, but 
confeffed and purfued after a further eftablilhment in the 
doctrine they had been taught by the apoftles, not giving 
place to the herefies that abounded inoppoiition to the goi- 
pel of Chrift, or abating in their zeal for its honor and fuc- 
cefe. 

From this article I would note one thing by the way, 
that demands our attention, which is this, namely, that 
it is part of the chriftian chara£ler to maintain a confcien- 
tious regard, and ftri6lly adhere to found do£lrine. They 
who would leffen the concern of the faithful about purity 
in do£lrine, depart from the original pattern, and ftrike at 
the foundation of real chriftianity. To be found in faith 
in this fenfe, is of the utmoft importance ; for truth is the 
ftandard of experience, and the fole rule of pra£lice ; and 
without knowledge neither the heart nor the life can be 
good ; it is the true grace of God or true do6lrine of the 
gofpel, wherein believers ftand, and become fruitful, r 
Pet. v. 12. And accordingly it is written. Col. i. 6. 
that the gofpel which came unto the Coloffians, as it did 
in all the world, bringing forth fruit, as faith he, " it doth 
" alfo in you, fince the day ye heard of it, and knew the 
*' grace of God in truth,'' i. e. the true grace of God or 
dodrine of Chrift, in the experience and power of them 
-through faith. Errors in doArine lead to errors in prac- 

Bb 



202 LEG T U R E S ON 

tice. Hence, though a mere fpeculative knowledge of 
the gofpel has no faving or abiding effect, yet it is needful 
to guard againft any corruption from the fimplicity that is 
in Chrift ; and therefore Paul and Barnabas, A£ls xiii. 
43. fpeaking unto the people at Antioch, " perfuaded 
'' them to continue in the grace of God," i. e. the word 
of God, which they had been preaching unto them. It is 
therefore becoming the chriftian chara£ler to buy the truth 
and fell it not, but, after the example of thefedifciples, to 
be ftedfaft in the do£lrine of the Lord preached by his 
apoftle, and on no confideration whatever, in any degree, 
depart from theni. But to return. 

Another inftance in which thefe primitive chriftians 
perfevered, is fellowJhip» By fellowfliip we fometimes 
underftand an union with the faints, or place in their focie- 
ty, which was our fubje^l in a preceeding le6lure ; and I 
confefs that the fame word is ufed in Gal. ii. 9. for the 
right hand of fellowfliip, given by Cephas and others to 
Paul and Barnabas, in token of their hearty acknowledg- 
ment of them in the chara^ler of fellow-communicants. 
We have alfo (hewn, that it is the duty of every believer 
tx) be found in the communion of faints, which fome ne- 
glect, who, while they boaft in their knowledge of doftrihes, 
have not learned to obferve this noble divine inftitution. 
But we have already feen thefe difciples added to the 
church. They were joined together in the Lord previou* 
to this ; fo that their continuing ftedfaftly in this fellow- 
fliip mult refer to fome particular branch of duty thereir , 
diftin^ from other articles mentioned ; and I apprehend 
it more efpecially regards their forwardnefs to communi- 
cate*. In the fociety or fellow Qiip of the church there 



* An obligation to this free and faithful communication of all our talents 
perfonal and relative, which may conduce to the advantage of the body 
and its members, refults from the nature of that covenant chriftians arc 
wnder in a church Hate, which hath refpedl not only to the Lord as oui 
common head, and to all his appointments and officers in his houfe ; bur 
it alfo has a mutual refped to every one in communion, for in this con 
federatiQn the difciples clave together, fo as to be no longer their own, 
hut the property one of another. The fcriptures are plain, a Cor. viii' 



m 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 203 

is a communiqation of all goodnefs from one to another, 
according to the ability which God giveth, in things natu- 
ral and fpiritual. With refpe^l to outward good things, 
welliall find in this infant church an univerfal community 
of their fubftance for the benefit of the whole ; a circum- 
ftance peculiar to the then flate of Chriflianity in the world, 
as I fhall endeavour to fliew in its place. If this is at all 
referred to here, it may intend their continuing from time 
to time, as additions were made of new converts, or any 
others who might have property come into their hands, 
to throw it into the common ftock, as at the beginning. 
However a free contribution of temporal good, for the 
fupport of the minillry, fupply of the poor, and other 
necefifary expences for maintaining the worftiip of God in 
the communion of his faints, is an effential branch of chrift- 
ian fellow'fliip in the prefent ftate of the church, and 
will be fo to the end of the world, unto which, exhortati- 
ons ^ibound in the New-Teilament, which fome regard not, 
being fadly deficient in their duty to the Lord and his peo- 
ple. But many are of another and a better fpirit, or 
the vifible intereft or Chrift would fink in the world, which, 
bleffed be God, who has the hearts of men in his hands, 
(liall never come to pafs. But this is not to be reftrained 
to liberality, it extends toother inftances of brotherly 
love, and takes in fpiritual communications, fuch as admo- 
nitions, advice, yea and vifiting the fick, or thofe who are 
in diftrefs ; for however thoughtlefs, or little exercifed, 



5. <*They gave themfelves to us by tiic will of God." Again, Rom. xv. 
7. *^ Receive ye one another." And further, i Pet. v. 5. "Yea all of 
" you be fubjedt one to another. "See alfo Col. iv.9 — 12. i Gor. xii. la — 27« 
Rom. xii. 5. Col. ii. 19. and Eph. ao, 21. So then in church-cove- 
nant, by the will of God, his people give themfelves each to the other, 
and arc as it were the property one of the other. A felfifh felf- willed 
fpirit is direcftly againft the principles of this facred union in the Lord. 
And if Chriflians united with undtrflanding, according to the gofpel of 
Chrift, and were faithful to their folemn engagements,they would abound, 
to their power, in all libei-ality and good order, which would turn to 
-their mutual comfort and edification. But there is reafon to fear that 
many profefTors are ignorant of the foundation of this holy compa(5t by 
divine appointment, and therefore without rcmorfe walk after their own 
unaginati»n. 



ao4, LECTURES ON 

Ibme may be in the laft mentioned office of love, to the 
grief of their afflided brethren, it is a confiderable branch 
of practical godlinefs and chriftian communion, and they 
who negle^l it do well to confider what the apoftle Jame« 
declares, chap. i. ulto. " Pure religion and undefiled before 
" God and the Father is this, to vifit the fatherlefs and 
*' the widow in their affli<^ion." In (liort, when it is faid 
they continued ftedfaftly in feilowfliip, it carries in it I heir 
conftancy and diligence in every a»ft of endeared friendOiip 
and mutual and earneft endeavor by love to ferve one ano- 
ther, as they had opportunity, and as occafion required. 
Thus thefe primitive chriftians abounded in every focial 
virtue, each one driving to his utmoft for the comfert and 
* edification of the church, and the members in particular; 
fo that their religion did not reft in purity of doftrine, but, 
like thofe who have an experience of its power, and the 
love of God in their hearts, they were fruitful in every good 
word and work. 

The next article, by which their continuing (ledfaftly 
xmder their profeilion is fpecifieJ, is that of breaking 
cf bread, A phrafe which, however fometimes ufed 
for common and natural meals, as I apprehend in verfe 46, 
yet here, I think, it plainly intends that fpi ritual repaft, or 
divine ordinance in the church, the Lord's-fupper. On 
this table of the Lord, are placed by his dire6lion, bread 
and wine^which are appointed ligns or figures of his body 
and blood, the conftituent parts of that flelh i,n which he fuf- 
fered, when he became a iacrificefor the fins of his people. 
One end of this fupper being a commemoration of our Sa- 
viours paffion on the crofs, as fpecified by himfelF, when 
lie inftituted the fame, and accordingly it is faid, th at '' in 
^** eating this bread, and in drinking this cup, ye do flievv 
** forth the Lord's death till he come," i Cor. xi. 26. 
But there is another fign of ufe in this ordinance. We 
are taught chap. x. 17. of the fame epiftle, which is tliis 
namely, that hereby we teflify our union with Chrift, and 
with one another in him : " Fo-r (faith the apolUe)webeD 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 20s 

^* ing many are one Bread ^, and one body ; for we ar-e 
" all partakers of that one bread." This idea of the fa* 
jcrament feems now little regarded ; but, allowing the 
paffage refers to the fupper, which will fcarce be denied, 
is not this as truly the counfel of God as the other?—- 
The firft and principal defign of this holy ordinance, is 
to exhibit the ncftiiral body of Jefus in a figure, and to ma- 



* Dr. Dodderidge notes that many valuable manufcripts read, "and of 
-" one cup." And we find in the proceeding verfe, and indeed in all other 
places in fcripture, the cup in the fupper is mentioned in the fingular num- 
ber, which anfwcrs to the idea our Saviour himfelf gives us of his bloody 
fufferings, reprefented by the cup in the facrarnent. When in an agoisy 
in the garden he fupplicatcs his Father, he fays not, Let thefe cups, as of 
many, but as of one, Let this cup pafs from me. But, in refped of the 
bread, it is exprefsly faid to be one, i. e. as expofitors generally agree, one 
loaf. It is well known that the order of the words in ihe original Greek 
are as follows : "Becaufe the bread is one, we, being many, are one bo- 
dy." Which Dr. Whitby paraphrafcs thus : " The loa; or bread is one ; 
" and we all partake of one loaf, and therefore are one body." This he 
improves againft the pra<5lice of the Church of Rome, who difiiributes to 
her communicants feverally an unbroken wafer; fo that, as the doctor" 
.obferves,they neither are partakers of one bread or loaf, or of bread l;ro- 
ken, as faith he, it was the cuilom both of jevv's and chriflians to do, i. e. 
the one at the paffover, and the other at the fupper. But then, why do 
proteftants break feveral loaves, the pieces of which are received by the 
members of the fame church ? If they partake of bread broken, it is of one 
bread .' The bread and one bread are fynonymous phrafes, and fignify one 
lump or loaf. And Dr. Gill has given us from Dr. Lightfoot a very per- 
tinent palTage of a writer of note, whence it appears that the Jews thought 
it needful," in order to an afibciation of this kind, that the biead whereof 
the members partake fhould be originally in one loaf; and on the like prin- 
ciple do chriftians commune at the table of their Lord. I am fenfiblc that 
many have the following glofs on this paffage, namely, "As bread confiils 
*' of many grains of corn, which being ground and kneeded together make 
** up one loaf, fo believers being many are one body of which Chrift is 
" the head." Thus they fpeak, as if the apoftle alluded to the compofiti- 
on of a loaf, of corn bread; but I humbly apprehend this is not his defign. 
He is arguing, not from the compofiticn of a loaf, but from the origiual 
unity of thofe pieces in one lump, which are diftributed to the feveral 
communicants in this gofpel-fea{L And, in my opinion, it is net fufficicut 
to fay, that the members of a church, all partake of bread, v/hich is of the 
fame nature or kind. Nothing iefs will come up to the argument of the 
apoftle than this, that the bread whereof chriftians partake in that divine 
ordinance, is at firft or before it is broken, in one mafs or lump. And I 
think we cannot be too exadt in the manifcft circumftances of a pofitive 
iullitution of our Lord Jefus Chrift. And I hope there Heeds no other 



2o6 LECTURES ON 

nifeft his fuflferings and death, yet we are not to exclude 
from our view thedefign alfo of reprefenting the mystical 
body of Chrift, and our profeflion of a union in him, by 
partaking together of one and the fame bread, which is 
broken and divided in the communion of the faithful. 
This idea of the fupper is adapted to holinefs, love, and 
that pra^ical union, if I may fo exprefs it, a great defici- 
ency in which is too juftly lamented in the prcfent time. 
I mention it now on occafion of this periphrafe of the 
eucharift breaking breads which manifeftly correfponds 
with the defcription of the manner in which this ordi- 
nance is admlnillred, one branch of which lies in break- 
ing a fingle loaf or lump of bread ; for the abovemention- 
ed pafTage would be divefted of all its propriety and ar- 
gument, if the ancient cuftom was not to have one lump 
only divided among the communicates, their being no 
other tolerable fenfe in which thofe who partake in this 
ordinance may be faid to participate of one bread, but 
that of the feveral pieces of which each receive one, be- 
ing originally united in one lump and fo prefented on the 
table, and broken afunder, as the Lord hath fliewn us. 
And this is the foundation of the apoftle*s reafoning from 
the communion, unto the union of them who partake in 
it, as members of one body in Chrift. If a ftranger was to 
form his notion of the manner in the facrament from this 
place, he might juftly be furprifed, on being a fpedatorat 
this ordinance in the ufaal method, to fee a number of 
loaves divided on the occafion, and at a lofs to reconcile 
it with the idea conveyed by the apoftle in the paflage re- 
apology for detaining the Reader with this long note, which I conclude 
with die following lines of that celebrated poetical expofitor, the late Dr. 
Watts : 

" We are but fev'fal parts 

" Of the fame broken bread ; 
" One body hath its fev'ral limbs, 

" But Jefus is the Head." 

Watts'shymnsjbook 3. hymn 2. See alfo the feveral learned authors on the 
place above mentioned, and likewife Dr. Hammond, and the continuatori 
©f Mr. Henry, &c. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 207 

ferred tOi How far this may deferve confideration, I leave 
to the Reader ; but if it be lawful to conform in our prac- 
tice to the reafoning of a paffage, which manifeftly refers 
to this inftitution, why fliould we not ? and efpecialJy as it 
may eafily be done. But to pais this ; breaking oF bread be- 
ing thus a conftituent branch in the adminiftration of the 
lupper, no wonder it is mentioned under this phrafe ; and 
that in fpeaking of the difciples affembling to eat it, it is 
faid they came together to break bread, as in A£ls xx. 7^ 
II. And again, I Cor. X. 16. faith the apoftle, " the 
'^ bread which we break." 

Now it is declared of thefe chriftians, that they con- 
tinued ftedfaftly in breaking of bread ; they did not, as 
fome, decline this branch of their holy profeffion, but 
were conftant and univerfal in a frequent attendance on 
the Lord at his table. In this precious institution of the 
Saviour the fum of the gofpel is collected, and fometiraes 
the fweeteft communion is found ; it exhibits a crucified 
Jefus, and is moft wifely adapted to promote the life and 
power of godlinefs,and tofatisfy and rejoice the believer, 
■who is looking for the blefled hope of his glorious appear- 
ance ; and fad is the fymptom of a growing neglect of 
this holy ordinance among nominal chriftians 1 But thefe 
firft difciples were zealous, and frequent in their attend' 
ance upon it ; how frequent is not recited ; fome have 
thought daily, or at lead in every meeting, but the account 
we have of their coming together to break bread feems 
rather to fuppofe they had other meetings of a religious 
kind, in which that ordinance was not adminiftered ; how- 
ever this is certain from i Cor. xi. a6. that they often 
eat this bread, and drank this cup. And from other ac- 
counts it feems to have been at lead every firft day of the 
week ; to which agrees the palTagc in John before men- 
tioned, and alio the pra£lice of the church for centuries 
after the age of the apoftles ; for writers, both chriftian 
and heathen, fpeak of the bifhop giving the eucharift on 
Sunday, when they were afiembled to praiie Chrill and 
bind themlelves by a facramenr., as the heathens obferved; 
but the learned and impartial author of the conftitution 



268 Vt C'T U R E S O N 

and difcipline of the primitive church, page 19, obferve'Sv 
" that in theie days they communicated at leaft three 
" times a week, vi2. Wednefdays, Fridays, and Lord's- 
** days." It was celebrated in the evening at Troas, on 
the fir ft day of the week, when Paul pfeached till mid- 
night; and from the above-named writer, page 103, it 
appears, this fupper was adminiftered at the conclufion of 
their folemn fervices, i. e. after they had read, fung, 
preached and prayed, which folemnities were held either 
morning or evening, as beftfuitedin the times of perfecu- 
tion. However this eucharift Was given not yearly, or 
once in a quarter, which by no means anfwers to the fre- 
quency hinted in fcripture ; no, nor did thefe zealous dif- 
ciples content themfelves with a monthly commemora- 
tion of their faviour's pa{Ii(>n, which feems much too often 
for many nominal chriltians in this day ; for, being full 
of love to Jefus Chrift, and to each other, as members of 
the fame body in him, they affembled every week or often- 
er, to join in this communion. They gloried in the crofs- 
and delighted in their union in Chrift ; and, as perfons 
longing after the prefence and honor of their Lord, and 
their mutual refreihment and joy, they continued univer- 
fally to come up together in his name, to eat at his table ; 
thus they glorified iheir Saviour, and encouraged one 
another ! An example worthy the imitation of all who 
profefs chriftianity. 

->. 
It remains to confide the laft inftance in which thefe 
difciples perfevcred. The apoftle adds, and m prayers. 
All prayer becomes the character of a chriftian, but here 
is intended particularly the prayers of the church. The 
houfe of the Lord is an houfe of prayer ; and the fociat 
worfliip of his people lies much in their united and earneft 
Supplications at the throne of grace. Prayers attend eve- 
ry folemnity, but many are the occafions of the church in 
this changeable and militant ftate for folemn feafons of 
prtiyer ; and, indeed, in the btft of times there is need of 
thefe opportunities in which the faints may "build up one 
" another on their moft holy faith, praying in the Holy 
" Ghoft-" Now the primitive chriftians applied them- 



feWesie^^'tioftlyJio-this part of tbeb ditty in the hotife of 
God; tbfty were, conftant, eaHy and zealous at the ap- 
poirited feafons of prayer ; and nat like fo me who are ex* 
cu^fig themtelves) on every occafioii. On psrfons firft 
fetting. out in the ways oS the Lord, it is generally feen 
that they are ^ijpofedr to thefe meetings, and ready to 
come where pr^iyer is wiotit to bei made ; but it often ap- 
pears that fii.ch are foon drawn afide, and decline their 
attendance. It may likewife be obfeirved that when prayer- 
n\eetings are newly fet up, people flock for awhile ; but, 
a3 i£.tbey cajnfeQUt of mere curiofity, laa very little time, 
many negled or forfake them. Nor fliould we be furpriz- 
ed that the carnally-minded are not to be held to this 
fptrituoi exereife; for the fleiJx cannot bear the circum- 
fpedio^, felf-dQ^niali, ajid hoiinefs, needed to a continuing " 
inftant in prayer ; but, heaj-Tken, ye- nominal chriftians^ wha 
ddfpife thefe appointments in the communities to \yhich 
you belong I can you reaci this, account without blufhing? 
S/ee how the love of Ghrift coaftrained thefe difciples I 
They continued ftedfaftly im pjayersi, being univerfally 
farwaiifd to fill their affemblies ; Jtnd, are you confcious of' 
iv^gl^ing the prayers of the church in which you have a^ 
place, and of a difinclination to jp'm. them ? How d:weU5 
this love in your heart T 

Thu5 ftands dlivided a chriftian pirofeflion under fbur 
diftin^ branches, do£lrine, fellowfhip, i. e. focial and mu- 
tiviali communications;, breaking of bread in the fupp^r g§ 
tihe Lord, and ftated or occafional affemblies for prayer ^ 
In each pa.rticular the primitive chriftians, infpired with 
aeal for the glory of Jefus^ and love to one another, wer© 
conftant and a^live, purfuing every duty of their calling 
anvd communion in Chrift^withan increafing boldnels and 
ardor ; an illuftrious fpeciracn of that faith by which alone 
a man is juftified, receives rerailEon of fins, ai>dis entitled 
to a claim among the children of God. It is a faith which 
worketh by love, and will certainly influence the fubje<it 
to a fteady and fruitful behaviour ^s becomes the gol- 

C c 



aio LECTURES ON 

That many come fliort of this noble example, it is 
needlefs: :to prove ; but we may juftly lament the little 
appearance there is of a general aim at the like perfection 
in; obedience and love. The manner of living among the 
difciples at firft in Jerufalem, to be confidered hereafter, 
will further explain, illuftrate and confirm the articles we 
have now been upon, and naturally induce to feme remarks 
which would otherwife be pertinent here, I (hall therefore, 
referving them for a more fuitable place, elofe this lec- 
ture with a refledion, or rather an excitation to refle<ft, 
and labour after a conformity to this primitive fpirit and 
conduct. 

Permit me, my dear chriftian Reader, to put you in re- 
membrance, and to ftir up your zeal. How different this 
behaviour of the primitive difciples to that which appears 
among us at this day I Inftead of continuing ftedfaftly, 
what numbers, through love of the world, or diftruft of 
the power and faithfulnefs of God, warp and foon turn 
alide! Look round and confider, who are they that con- 
tinue and increafe in a becoming boldnefs for the truth — 
that delight in the fellowlhip of the iaints, freely commu- 
lycatingof their talents, natur-al and fpiritual, for the edi- 
fication of the church — that are frequent at the table of 
the Lord — and that are zealous in promoting affemblies 
fer prayer? Blefled be God, there are fome ; but, muft 
it not be owned that among nominal chriftians, the gene- 
rality content themfelves with bare hearing, and that in 
^manner uncertain and carelefs ? But, among thofe who 
have feparated themfelves to the ordinances of Chrift,and 
are joined to his church, what lukewarmnefs, iloth and 
inilability is feen ! How carnal, worldly and felfifll ! Do 
not earthly cares, afFeAions, and pleafures, openly engrofs 
the time and attention of many, to a general negle£l of the 
duties and privileges which belong to a chriftian profefT- 
jon ? In a word, how few are the inftances in which men 
jto withftandthe temptations they are under, and follow 
after righteoufnefs, as to come up in any tolerable degree 
to this itandard of pure r.iid vital chriftianity ! Witnefs 
the cianner in which, by .accounts, the folemn appoint- 



PRIMITIVE^ICHRISTIANITY. ran 

ments of the dilircfies are in cottimon iregairded'^ or rather 
in all appearance defpifed, to the increafe of licentiouf- 
nefs, and the grief of all who are heartily concerned for 
the faith and order of the gofpel ! O' that -we confidered 
the dignity and holinefs of ttte calling we profefs, and lived 
up t-o our obligations and hopey'and to the light we hav:e 
received ! Then (hould we vie with, yea, and in fome ref- 
pe£ls, exceed thefe worthy believers ; but, alas they con- 
demn us! They thus cleaved to the Lord with an holy 
fortitude, amidil perfecutions and fiery trials ; but as for 
us, though we pretend to the fame divine chara^ler, and 
call ourfelves the difciples or followers of a Captain, who 
overcariie the world, and was made perfect through fufFerr 
ings ; yet alas, how vain are the trifles that amufe us 
from his precious appointments I What flight afflidions, 
and little feif-denial, will intimidate andflumble us; and, 
to fay no more, what fliameful excufes are made by many 
profeflbrs for their no lefs Ihameful habitual negled of their 
ftation in'the houfe of God I I hope this is fpoken to him 
that can by no means allow himfelf in a lukewarm and 
fruitlefs- profeflion : But, if any can read this account of 
the primitive christians, and be carelefs and diforderly ; 
if he can, through lloth, love of pleafure, or from any, 
other caufe whatever, negled the ordinances of the Lord, 
pour contempt on the folemn appointments of his church, 
and refufe to join in her prayers, he betrays an obduracy 
and peryerfenefs, yea and that want of love toChrift and 
his ways, which lays him under a juft fufpicion of being 
the fervant of fin j at the thoughts of which who woulj 
not tremble ? 

No one- can doubt, tut that. the deportment of thefe 
firft difciples is written for our imitation ; let us then not 
be flothful, blit followers of them, who thus after having 
adorned their chriftian character, through faith and pati- ■ 
ence inherit the promifes. Remember it becomes us ta - 
hold fail our proleffion in every branch: To be found in- 
the doftrines of grace, to be filled with the fruits of fa- 
cial vti'tue in our feilowfliip with the- faints,, to be fre- 
quent in a commemoratign of th^- Lord at his table, ap4' 



j'to contmi!K^tiftatiitrin^tbe,pi?afyers of his pfeople, are tbiogs 
-bf the utmoft importanfce to the glory of God^ the adv,<in- 
itegie of thofe with whom we «re in communion, and the 
rpy of them that writch for our fouls, vwbofe faithful ae- 
(jDQOint moll nearly Gonderns us. By a ftedfaft adherence 
")to thefe things, the world will know that we are the dif- 
• tiples of Jefus, and we may expert an in creaf$ in know- 
-ledge and faith, and to enjoy communion with God. iOu?r 
T^joldnefs, both now and- hereafter, depends much on our 
'tliius abiding in Ghrift, jPfalmcxix. 6, i Jehn ii. :a,S. Un- 
Eefs we thus cleave to tlie Lord, we fliall not be able to 
<face the enemy with courage, nor can we ufe.freedo"lTi in 
prayer; for how (liall a man lookup to Jefu?, who is a 
iprieft on his throne, when he is confciouis of negle^ing his 
precepts ? It is lifcewife of importance in our lateftmo- 
inent§, if they are attended with refle^lion. What com- 
ihvtCB.ri there be in a review of an unliable and fruitlefs 
profeffion ? Divine forgivenefs may lu pport the: heart un- 
der this forrowful profpeB,; but in proportion to a juft 
ftjnfe of this grace, the penitent will be filled withfliame, 
and bitterly mourn his ungrateful backllidings : Whereas 
he thatiiftands faft hath this rejoicing, the tellimonyof a 
good confcience, and many fwcetpromifesto enco>urage 
him, particularly. that. capital one : " Be thou faithful un- 
" to dfiath, andil will give thee a crown of life." Nor 
fliouldlitte omitted that the real character, of the righte- 
ous raufi thereafter be manifefted.and,cori6nmed, by the in- 
f^ances of (their love to. Ghrift and -his people, and how 
that wiU appear in their condu^l whoare flothfuliand care- 
lefs, fuch do well to confider; therefore *' abide in Chriil, 
*' that, when he fliall appear, ye may have confidence, 
'^ lanki not :be alhamed before him at his coming." 

In ome word ; nothing fhort of this will > pofliefs mian- . 
kind with a reverence, of the Lord and his church, or in- 
duce renewed teftimonies of the power and grace of God, 
whereby it may be known that he is in the midil of a peo- 
ple to blefs them. When perfons united. under a profeff- 
ion of the gofpcl arc lukewarm, iiiiCorderly and licenti- 
ous, 4hey are ieft of .God, whofe fpirit .is grieved ,, ;and be- 



PRIMITiyE !C|tRIST:IANITY. 213 

'i^^mjs jcorttemptibk,; ^ut if ,t,^ey kee^ ^p to th^r temper 
and Gondu<Et of tbefe firft difciples, and walk in love ; as 

:fe»r came on;every foul around this cbriftian church, fo 
it will he iiitmeafuv^ with .them ; foj: a church fo walking 
together may be truly admired in the language of Solo- 

:i3aon'3 S(Q"g» cb-ap. vi. 10. .wit^ which I conclude, " Who 
" -is ihe tha^ looketh forth ,a§4he morning, iajr as the 
*' moon, clear as the fun, and terrible as an army with 
*' banners?" 



msi 



LECTURE XVIII. 



rWhe 'Manner m \tiykicb tkese .prmltive disciples lived 
together '^n the tburdb at' Jerusalem* 



>T !N this concife hiflory of the priraitive church, we 
JL have already feein the conftant and earneil purfuit of 
her members in every branch of their profellion. Impar- 
tiality and zeal are genuine fymptoms of real piety, in 
whidh they abounded,, and became an example to the faith- 
ful in every age. We now pafs to the fecond general di- 
I'ifion jof the account, which contains their manner of liv- 
iflg, . comprebending their j^le^ii^it fttu^i^jon, how their 



2X4 L E C T U R E S O N 

time was employed, the fy'int or temper which prevailed 
among them, and the influence it had on thofe who beheld 
them. The whole prefents us with a beautiful fcene of 
brotherly love, and delight in the ways of the Lord I 

As to their fituation, we are told, ver. 44. that " all 
" that believed were together." The Greek word in this 
place is, literally, in the same ; this may be varioufly ap- 
plied ; they were in the fame judgment, and the fame in 
point of experience and worfliip, they had one Lord, one 
faith, and one baptifm j but this is included in verfe 42, 
already explained. They were alfo united in their affecti- 
ons one towards another, minding the fame thing, and, 
being knit together in love, as one man, they ftrove for 
the faith of the gofpel, following the things which make 
for peace and mutual edification. Satan had not yet ex- 
cited thofe finful pa'ffions, too often feen among chriftians, 
whereof come evil furmifmgs, contentions and divilions, 
to the difturbance of their peace, and the difgrace of their 
heavenly calling. The malicious and fubtle adverfary in- 
deed foon found means to ftir up a vain-glorious difpofi- 
tion, and occafion fchifms among them, witnefs at Co- 
rinth ; one was of Paul and another of ApoUos, infomuch 
that in 2 epift. xii. 20, the apoftle faith, " I fear, left 
*' when I come I fliall not find you fuch as I would — left 
** there be debates, envyings, wrath, ftrife," Sec. But 
atprefent, an<l for a while, this church at Jerufalem was 
free from thefe corruptions and diforders, and the difci- 
ples, as new-born babes, defired the fmcere milk of the 
word, and were perfectly united in an harmonious purfuit 
after the glory of Chrift and each other's comfort, having 
no party-views, or different aims in their communion to- 
gether, but were of one accord and of one mind. Thus, 
A6ls iv. 32. we are told, that " the multitude of them 
*' that believed, wei'e of one heart and of one foul." 

This may alfo refer to the frequent meetings they held, 
which perfectly agrees with the account of their pra6lice . 
" They were daily in the temple, and from houfe to 
'^ houie," of which more hereafter. In this view it 



i 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTfANiTY. 2^15 

(hews that they did not forfake the affembling of them-* 
felves together, as the manner of feme is, but afifociated 
with conftancy and dehght, fo that they were in a man- 
ner always in company. 

■ Again, they were together in one church -ftate. The 
learned Dr. Lightfoot underftands it of their keeping to- 
gether in feveral companies or, congregations, according 
to their languages, nations, and other connexions, &c. 
But I humbly apprehend, that if feparate congregations 
were needful for thefe or any other reafons, as here among 
Proteftants of diflFerent nations, for inftance, the Dutch, 
the French, &c. yet it is evident they were but one church,, 
even the fame unto which the convertswere added: nor 
do we read of any other in this famous city. On the con- 
trary, we are told, chap. v. 11. that " great fear came 
" upon all the church,'' on account of Ananias and Sap-' 
phira. And ftill further, chap. viii. i. it is faid, that af- 
ter the death of Stephen the martyr, *^ there was a great 
" perfecution againil the church which was at Jerufalem." 
Still but one church at Jerufalera j and therefore, I fay, 
if the difciples did on any occafion, or for any purpofes, at 
times meet together in feparate congregations, as obferv- 
ed,they were all in the fame individual church-ftate, there 
being no other then fubfifting ; nor was the order or offices 
needful to form and organize particular churches, as after-* 
wards, fettled by the authority of Chriil, through the 
hands of his apoftles ; and indeed jt doth not appear that 
there ever was in the age of the apoftles more than one 
church, at Jerufalem, or in any other city or place what* 
ever. 

And here it may be ufeful to paufe, and refle(9: on the 
wide difference there is between the condufl of chriftians 
in refped of church-communion in this day, and that of 
thofe in the primitive times ; then they continued toge- 
ther in every place, in one body, and that univerfally, fo 
far as we learn, at leaft this was the cafe, while they had 
gifts fufficient, and w^re capable of doing it ; but «cu' alas, 
■aimoft on every occafion profelTors divide infomuch, th.it 



2i6 L E € T U.R^ S; ON: 

tber^ is fcarce a little town where perfofis o£ the fame.ef- 
fential faith and order, are not divided into what they call 
feparate church-ftates, each of which are fcarce able to- 
perform the duties elfential to their own wellrbeing. It j^., 
neither my inclination nor province to cenfure any fociety 
whatever ; but, may I not decently move for a feri^ys 
confideration, whether it is agreeable to the fpirit of chrift-- 
ianity, or for the intereft and glory of the church thus t-o- 
^ivide on every occailon ? 

Particular congregations of bejieyers incorporated jn 
the order of the gofpel are certainly of divine inilicution^,. 
and needful for the exercife of difcipHne, and other relat- 
ive duties in the communion of faints on earth ; accord-* 
ingly there were many fuch focieties in the apoftolic agei 
in the fame country. Thus we read of the churches m 
Afia, Macedonia, Galatia, and Judea ; but when the dif- 
ciples in Jerufalem, Corinth, Philippi, &c. are menti5onf< 
€d,it is always in the fmgular number, to (hew they coxh 
tinued together in one body in Chrift, It is true in tbofe- 
days there were extraordinary gifts and helps ; and if four, 
five or fix thoufand believers inhabit a city or populous 
place, a minifter of common abilities will fcarce be able to 
difcharge the paftoral office among them, nor would the 
people be capable of knowing, loving, and performing their 
part to one another as members of a particular church 
ought to do. If therefore,the number of chriftians united 
in judgment is too many for the ordinary ends of commu- 
nion, it is fit to feparate with mutual confent ; neverthe-' 
lefs it is moft for the honor of the gofpel, and fafeft when 
the faithful, who dwell in one place, can commune toger 
ther in one church, and when this cannot be attained, 
through fome difference in point of doclrine or order, or 
byreafon, of the multitude ofprofeffors, great care fliould 
be taken to preferve unity ofaffedion and harmony, and to 
avoid every mean and low pradice, whereby fome have defi* 
pifed, or at leaft fliown but too great forwardnefs to dif- 
courage and lefien neighbouring churches and minifters, 
for if there is not brotherly love, a cordial friendthip, and 
fqcial converfe maintained between gofpel-miniilers and 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, zr; 

churches, who thus as h were refide together, it is a fad 
reproach to ourholyprofeflion, and Satan will furel}^ get ati 
advantage. When therefore a carnal, private,' fdilCh fpi- 
rit prevails among minifters, and the members of feparate 
congregations are not encouraged to correfpond with one 
another in the fight of the world, in any place, whatever, 
it is very unhappy and threatening. This was tlie opini- 
on of the great Dr. Owen, in the preface to his Efiicol, 
he fays, " It is convenient that all believers in one place 
" fliould join themfelves in one congregation, unlefs, 
'•• through their being too numerous, they are by common 
^ confent diftinguifhed into more ; which order cannot 
*< be difturbed without danger, ftrife, emulation, and 
*' breach of love." I apprehend there may be other rea- 
fons, of diftind congregations in one place, befides that of 
numbers. But the danger from caufelefs feparation, as 
noted above, is too plainly verified, and ftjould induce him 
that feeks peace to unite, as far as he can, in feUowIliip 
with thofe of another particular communion. And the 
primitive difciplesthus keeping together, notwithftanding 
their vaft increafe, moft certainly condemn thofe divifions 
and fubdivifions on every different opinion, which is fo 
frequently feen in a day oflukewarmnefs and declenfion; 
whereby, in fome places, the vifible church is crumbled 
into pieces, to the grief of good men. In a word, the di- 
vifion of any chriftian congregation, who can join together 
in the ordinances of the gofpel, under whatever fpecious 
pretence, may gratify the lulls of men, but has rio tenden- 
cy to promote the truth of God, and is not to be encourag- 
ed by any who wifh well to Zion, 

But to return. This phrafe of tlie difciples being toge- 
ther, is by fome underftood of their aflbciating in bne 
place. It appears from A(9:s iv. 31. that even after a 
further increafe of the church they met in one place*, 
which was miraculoufly fhaken while they were afiem- 
bled. Hence it was an ancient defcrtptiort of a parlica- 

Dd 



2i8 L E C T (; R E S ON 

lar church, that it is a '-' fociety of chriftians ^ meeting 
*' together in one place, under their proper paftors, for* 
^' the perfo nuance of religious vvorfliip, and the cxercife 
*' of chriftian difcipline ." which is, by the way, utterly 
againll th6 popular notion of a national church in any 
form whatever ; but, as hinted already, J . apprehend 
that we have in this claufe their manner of life ; they 
were together in a civil as well as in a religious fenfe ; a 
lociety that communed together in natural, no lefs tlian 
in fpiritual things: We fliall prel'ently fee that they had 
all things common, and lived on one ftock. This conti- 
niied awhile* Thus we read, chap* iv. 34. that" as many 
" as were pofleffors of lands or houfes, fold them and 
^' brought the price of the things that were fold, and laid 
** them down at the apoftles feet." Some have thought 
it incredible that any fmgle houfe fliould accommodate 
fo many thoufands, particularly with lodging; for as to 
an appartment in one of the towers of the temple, as 
fome have fuggefted, Jofephus indeed afferts, that they 
made up an hundred beds. What is that to the number 
of difciples ? Befides, is, there any reafon to imagine 
.that the defpifed and perfecuted chriftians fliould have 
leave to dwell there ? Nor is it at all needful to fuppofe 
that they dwelt in one houfe ; perfons may be in one fami- 
ly, and yet have apartments at fome diftance from each 
•other; and it is certain, the firft chriftians lived in dif- 
ferent habitations, for we are told^ ver. 46. that they 
."broke bread from houfe to houfe :*' Neverthelefs they 
.were plainly one fociety, fupplied out of the fame capital 
ftock, which was raifed from the free-will furrender of 
the fubftance belonging to them who joined the church as 
defcribed ; the deppfiting and difpoiition of which, are 
recited in the fifth and ftxth chapter of the AgIs. And 
here I cannot but vindicate the character of rhefe noble 
chriftians from the unworthy conceptions of fome. 



It has been infmuatedf, that one reafon of the dlfci- 

* Enquiry into 1 
f Dr. Whitby's 
on the fame place. 



* Enquiry into the conftitution of the primitive church, p. 7. 

f Dr. Whitby's annotation on Adsli. 45. and Dr. Dedderidge's Note 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, xrp : 

pies freely parting with their fubftance was this, namely, 
" that being refolved to cleave to the apoftles, and appre- 
*' bending the approach of the deftru^lion of Jerufalem, 
" when they knew they muft flee and leave all to the 
*' enemy, they therefore were willing to part with their 
" eftates for the benefit of the church." This I think is 
a groundlefs conjedure, and rather ungenerous : - If it was 
certain that the Romans were inftantly cotning, and would 
feize on the country of the; Jews, it would have been na- 
tural, in them that believed it, to have parted with their ' 
eftates ; and fmce the multitude gave no heed to the pre- 
diction of our Lord, there would doubtlefs have been 
many to purchafe, for under thefe circuraftances they muft 
be fuppofed to have bought at a very low price ; but the 
deftru6lion of Jerufalem was near forty years diftant, and 
there is no reafon for imputing the condu6l of the primi- 
tive difciples to any fuch motive ; their manifeil zeal for 
the gofpel, and love to each other, was more than a fuffici- 
ent inducement to part with their houfes and lands for 
the relief of their brethren ; they therefore not only fold 
them, but (except in the cafe of Ananias and Sapphira) 
they every one delivered up the vv^hole of their produce to 
the apoftles ; and this they did nqt without caufe, for it 
appears, that after all the generofity of thofe who had 
pofleflions among them, ill a time of perfecution they fo on 
ftood in need of the contribution oi: others. Upon ' the 
whole, I fay it feems unworthy the cbarafter of thefe no- 
ble followers of the Lamb, to fuppofe that a confideratiou 
fo low and carnal Ihould in any, degree move them to their 
feafonable and rich liberality, ' 

Some afre(^ to imitate the primitive chriftians, by at- 
tempting to live in the manner they did ; and it is proba- 
ble that the above fuggeftion was with a view, to prevent 
this vain-glorious pretence; but we are no.t to have re- 
courfe to conjeAures. that'detra£lfrom the faithful in their 
becoming zeal on an extraordinary occafion, to obviate the 
defigns of crafty men, who under a fpecious fliew.of re- 
ligion, decoy the fimple out of their property and free- 
dom, againlt reafon and. fcripture. It is plain from the 
• facred hiftory that this manner of communion was- owing 



27>o LECTURES ON 

tqr tibe peculiar citrciimftances the difciples were in at pre- 
fectt ; and, as has been frequently and juftly obfervcd, 
tb«t it was never intended to he a precedent in a fettled 
flftte of cbriflianity, fince it appears from the current of 
the epjftles, that members of churches are fpoken of as, 
rkh and poor, and many exhortations are given which 
couM baye no place, if it was: the duty or excellency of 
chriiiians in fociety, to have all things common, as they 
haxi aitj this time in Jerufalem, The inftitutions of the got- 
pel are not advanced on the ruins of morality. '' Chrift's 
gofpel.(fay the continuators of Mr. Pool's annotations) 
'* does not deftroy the law ; and the eighth command- 
" ment is ftill in force, whkh it could not be if there 
'' wasi no property, or meum and tuum now.^" And in- 
de;ed, however fome may boaft in this notion, or pra^ice 
of focial religion, it has a natural tendency to deftroy 
the foundations of order and government, both in the 
world and in the church, and accordingly to be fhunned 
and rejected, as a delufion and unworthy the gofpel of 
Chrift. 

This was the fituation and manner of the difciples in 
the infant ftate of the church, all that believed were to- 
gether^ i. e. they were fupplied out of one common ftock, 
Which arofe from the fubftance of thofe who had pofTeffi- 
ons, winch they fold ; a condu£l by no means fuited to 
the manifeft duties of believers in an ordinary church- 
ftsai)e, all pretence to which is abfurd and unfcriptural, if 
not downright immoral. Neverthelefs it was a wife and 
noble inllance of charity in the primitive church, by which 
every covetous or ftraight-handed perfon, who affumes the 
name of a chriftian, ftands condemned to the end of the 
world. And however difagreeable to fome the obferva- 
tion may be, this example of love proves that, in a right 
liate of things, the difciples of Jefus, conftrained by his 
grace, will be as much as poflible together, in order to a 
rautual and free communication of their talents for the 
fupport of his kingdom, and the good of each other ; and 
confequently that a narrow and felfifti fpirit, and a roving 
djfpofition, will never anfwer the end of chriftian com» 
munion. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 121 



LECTURE XIX. 



How the disciples at Jerusalem *were employed^ with 
pradlical notes on their condu&. 



WE are now to confider in what manner the pri- 
mitive chriftians filled up their time in the fitu- 
ation we left them. Idle profeflbrs might find an occalion, 
and there is reafon to fear that fome would abufe a com- 
munion circumftanced as that at Jerufalem, in favor of the 
fl^fh, but great was the grace beftowed on thefe difciples ; 
they feem one and all to be infpired from heaven to a di- 
ligent proof of their calling and election of God, in purfuit 
of which they divided their time between religious exer- 
ciies and thofe which are civil. 

The immediate defign of their union was religion, and 
to ferve God tlirough Jefus Chrift ; accordingly it is firft 
related, that " they continued daily with one accord in 
*' the temple." They were now of the true circumcifion, 
who worftiipped God in thjs Spirit, and knew that in every 
place where his people were gathered in his name, his 
prefence and blefling were infurcd ; neverthelefs the tem- 
ple, as an houfe of prayer, was not yet totally abolillied ; 
they therefore forfook not the public aflembly, but daily 
refortedunto it at the appointed feafon. Thus we read, 
chap, iii. that at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour, 



322 LECTURE SON 

or three of the clock in the afternoon, the time of the 
daily facrifice, and the hour when Jefus the Lamb of God, 
expired on the crofs, Peter and John went into the tem- 
ple. Some nominal chriftians would think it a burden to 
be called upon an hour in a week, or perhaps in a month 
for focial prayer, ex ceprt on the fabbath; but it was the 
daily pra£lice of thefe primitive chriftians to attend in the 
temple, beiides many private meetings among themfelves. 
What a wearinefs would this be to fome profelTors! Indeed 
prayers may be followed feveral times jn a day, in a vain 
and fuperilitious manner, yet there is no fuperllition in the 
daily prayers oF the clrarch ; nor are they inconfiftent with 
other duties in life, if things were rightly managed, per- 
sons in common might .find time to wait upon God, with- 
out being ranked am.cng the idle who negle£i their civil 
occupation, or to provide for their families ; neither are 
the prayers which in many places of worfhip are now day 
after day for the moil part literally and properly read to 
empty pews, within the bare walls of our churches; thefe, 
I fay, are not the relics of popery, as fome may imagine^ 
but the contempt thrown upon them, is a melancholy fymp- 
rom of our fad declenfion from that piety, and delight in; 
focial prayer, which (incQ the reformation once prevailed in 
the land ! Indeed we are not held to fet hours under the 
prefent difpenfation, but it is a gofpel-precept to pray withr 
out ceafmg ; and it fiirely then becomes us to be frequently, 
if not daily, uniting in our prayers to the Lord, for which, 
feafons mud be appointed, a neglecl of which difcovers 
want of inclination to this divine fervice ; and. the truth 
is that fome, being eager in a purfuit after the bufmefs and 
pleafures of life, their manner will not admit of a regular 
and conilant attendance in the church, or the family;, 
and it is to be feared that there are but too many pray-, 
crlefs people among us of every denomination, againft' 
whom, if they repent not, Papiils, yea and Mahometans, - 
who perform their devotion five times a day, and efteem 
prayer* the pillar of heaven and key of paradife, will rife 
up in judgment. 



* Sale's preliminary difcoarfe to thekoran, p. 142. 



t^RIMItlVE CHUISTIANITY. 223 

tBut again ; as thefe difciples were daily in the temple, 
it is likewife declared they were fo in " breaking bread 
^' from houfe to houfe." This is explained in the next 
claufe, by its being faid, " they eat their meat ;" a phrafe 
no where applied to that fpiritual repaft, the fupper oFour 
Lord, and therefore muH: refer to their natural meals. 
Some underftand it of friendly entertainments, which they 
Apprehend was made at each others houfes ; but, if as 
many of them as had houfes or lands-, made fale of the 
fame and furrendered the purchafe, as defcribed, i pray, 
who could provide thefe feafts for their friends : iiofpi- 
tality is one fruit of brotherly love ; but it feems inconfift- 
ent with the (late of this fociety, in which all things were 
common, to fuppofe that they treated one another in 
this manner. I am, therefore, of opinion that this break- 
ing of bread from houfe to houfe, was no ether than their 
commons, prepared in different apartments or houfes, 
in which proviiion was made by agreement, as fuited' 
their ftate, and thepurpofesof their communion together, 
which may eafily be conceived in a body fo compacted as 
thefe chrilHans. Thus they went on from day to day, 
joining in the worfliip of God in his temple or in church 
affemblies, and likewife at home, for they had heufes to 
eat and to drink in, where they partook of the bounties 
of providence together. 

. Now this focial communion, in refpe6l both of natural 
and religious enjoyments, was maintained and carried on 
in a fpirit and temper every way fuited to their holy pro- 
feffion. In the firft place, we are told they did it uitd 
gladncfs, A fad countenance is no proper fymptom of 
unfeigned piety; and I fee no reafon why this Oiould not 
include a natural cheerfulnefs, which will be felt in pro- 
portion to bodily health, and a juil fenfe of the divine 
bounty. '* Go tliy way (fays the wife man) eat thy bread 
*•'• with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for 
V God now accepteth thy works," Kcclef. xvjii. 7. Who 
fo fit to take a fober and moderate joy in the creature as 
thechriftian, whofe God is his portion? in this fenfe, the 
mail whofe iins are forgiven him, may be of good cheer j 



224 L E C T U R E S O N' 

but no doubt a fpiritual joy is principally intended. Irt 
the original Greek, the fame word in Jude ver. 2.4. is ren* 
dered exceeding joy, and iignifies not meerly a gladnefs of 
heart, but a vifible exultation, and fuppofes external fymp« 
toms, fo that it may refer to their fpiritual difcourfe, 
faying, as the difciples after the Lord was departed, " Did 
" not our heart burn within us while he talked with us 
'^ by the way, and while he opened to us the fcriptures V* 
Luke xxiv. 32, Thus might they enquire of each other, 
and communicate of their experience, and, being filled 
with joy, fing praifes together ; for, however ftrange it 
may now feem, there is reafon to conclude that the pri- 
mitive chriHians rarely parted at any time without prayer 
and linging. However religion is in a flourifliing date, 
when from the houfe of prayer the faithful come rejoiced 
Vn the loving-kindnefs of the Lord, and fatisfied in the 
riches of his grace, they fit down together at the table 
of providence in their own houfes with a fingular chear- 
fulnefs, while feeding their bodies their fouls are feafted 
in a remembrance of his favor. Thus their joy is double, 
of which (trangers to real piety can form no adequate 
idea. 

Again, with singleness of bean. The Greek word 
here rendered singleness, is ufed no where elfe ; it figni- 
fies plain, upright and honeft, and moft emphatically ex- 
prcffes the utmoft fimplicity. It is the teftimony of God, 
who fearcheth the reins, and a glorious part of the cha- 
ra6ler of thefe difciples, that they continued together 
without any fmifter, private or felfiHi view, being free 
from carnal motives in their fellowihip ; no crafty defigns, 
or mean underhand doings, were pra^lifed among them. 
There might be hypocrites, but in general they aflbciated 
with a pure heart, and unfeigned love of the brethren, 
and their condu£l was frank and open, like thofe who had 
a fmgle eye to the glory of God, and their mutual honor 
and comfort. This ftands in a natural connexion with 
the chearfulnefs that fpread through their company ; *' for 
" (faith the apoftle) our rejoicing is this, the teftimony 
" of our confcicnce, that in fmiplicity and godly ftncerity. 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 2.25 

** not with fleflily wifdom, but by the grace of God we 
*' have had our converfation in the world, and more abun» 
" dandy to you wards," a Cor. i. 12. Thus upright and 
fincere were thefe primitive chriftians, without oilentati- 
on or covetoufnefs. O that the like teftiraony could be 
borne to the fpirit and conduft of all who bear the name of 
chriilianity, and are in communion with the faithful ! But, 
alas, fome are of a contrary difpofition, and but too plainly 
difcover on every occafion their private views. Hence 
ftrife and vain-glory, animofities and divifions, whereby 
the church is fometimes torn and defaced, and fore dif- 
couragements are laid on the hearts of them that truly 
love God. 

Once more ; it is further declared that the difciples 
went on in thefe aiXocmtious praising God, As obferved, 
the term rendered gladness carries in it a' joy exprefled 
by fome bodily exercife, fuch as leaping, dancing and fing- 
ing, &c. Now here we learn the nature of that joy which 
poifefled the hearts of thefe chriftians, and how it appear- 
ed ; not by the ranting noife of fenfualifts, who fmg and 
roar like madmen and fools; their joy, like themfelves, 
is carnal and impious, blazing with a noife, and tranfitory 
as the crackling of thorns under a pot ; nor was it like 
that of thofe degenerate and Ihameful Ifraelites complain- 
ed of in Ifa. V. 1 3. '' The harp, the viol, the tabret and 
" pipe, and wine are in their feafts : but they regard not 
'' the work of the Lord, neither confider the operation of 
" his hands." Not fo at the table of the faithful at Jeru- 
falem, their rejoicing was holy and fpiritual, and termin- 
ated in the honor of their heavenly Father, whofe abound- 
ing mercies, temporal and eternal, infpired them with 
gratitude. To God they lift up their voices together, 
with adoration and praife, to celebrate his love. Now 
they might praife God in their meetings at thefe repafta 
or a natural kind, as well as in thofe more immediately 
ppointed for religious fervice in feveral ways ; by their 
p])lication for a blefTmg, with thanks, for the food of the 
body ; v/hich however fome make light of, or fcruple, is 

E e 



126 LEG T U R E S ON 

due to our bountiful Father, and a means of fanftifyingtbe 
creatures we receive, i Tim. iv. 5. an example of which 
we have in our Lord, who, when he fed the people with 
the meat that perifheth, firft gave thanks unto God, John 
vi. II. which is alfo noticed by the evangelift Matthew, 
And thus faith the apoftle, " He that eateth to the Lord, 
'' giveth God thanks," Rom, xiv. 6. In fliort, it is un- 
worthy the knowledge of God, and much more of the gof- 
pel of Chrift, to fit down to our food, and rife up, without 
giving thanks. But to return, the difciples praifed God 
in their difcourfe ; their Matter had Ihewn them to im- 
prove their meals by entering on fubje£ls that are fpiritual 
and divine, Luke vii. 40. xiv. 7. and on other occaii- 
©ns. Chriftians lofe much by omitting this manner of edi- 
fication. Hence the tongue of thofe who talk much and 
do nothing, are notorioufly proud, licentious or diforderly 
in their condu^;, condemn them ; it may be juft to caution 
againft an affe£led loquacity on religious fubje^ls, which 
is odious ^nd vain; but this appears not to me a prevail- 
ing evil in the prefent generation ; the table-talk of moll: 
chriftian families, as far as I can learn, rarely turns on any 
fubjed that fhould give the leaft difgufl: to thofe who are 
Grangers to the power of religion ; at leaft in general, we 
feem little to be charged vAth this kind of imprudence, but 
are much more polite, or rather flow in our difcourfe j yet 
it is certain that when perfons are afFe^led with the love 
of God, and a fenfe of divine things, they are very much 
difpofed to mention them. Atid if, as our Lord obferves, 
Matt. xiii. 34. " out of the abundance of the heart the 
" mouth fpeaketh,*' of which no man can doubt, is it not 
reafonable then to expert that believers, on returning from 
the enjoyment of God in his fan^uary to their own houfes, 
for the refrefliment of nature, (liould remind one another, 
and praife God together for the fpiritual benefits they 
have received ? Was this the pra^lice, we might hope lo 
fee more fpirituality among us ; our children, fervants and 
friends, who (land round about us, might be edified there- 
by, and be ready to blefs us in the name of the Lord. 
And further, God may be praifed by his people even at 
their own tables, at leall before they feparate from thefe en- 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 427 

tertainments, in pfalms, hymns and fpiritual fongs, in 
whichmanner v/e are directed to teach and admonidi on$ 
another. Col. iii. 16. and, why not in our own houfes, or 
family-affemblies ? Is the finging an hymn confined to the 
fanflaary, or forbid elfewhere ? Should not every chrift^ 
ian family be as a little church ? and may not thofe who 
love God take any fit opportunity to ftir up each other and 
to join in his praife ? And fliall the ignorant and malicious 
reproaches of worldly men, who are not adiamed of their 
empty, if not fihhy and impious ballads, intimidate chrift- 
ians from the entertainment and profit of united £ongs to 
the honor of God, and their bleffed Redeemer? 

This then is noted of thefe primitive chriftians ; they 
were not only joyful and upright, but chearful and grate- 
ful, praifmg God. They might decently praiie the food 
which they eat, as delicious and good in its kind ; this is 
proper and ufeftd in its place ; but doth it not rather look 
fcnfual to confine our difcourfe to this fubje6l? However 
tliey praifed God, i. e. their converfation in general turur 
ed not on felf ap{)laufe, or any thing trifling and carnal ; 
but in all their meetings, both in the church and at home, 
they communed on things adapted to edify the foul, and 
to quicken one another in glorifying their Saviour, How 
different are they whofe converfation is full of {lander 
and backbiting, filthy difcourfe or vain jetting, which is 
very offenfive and finful ! I hope the Reader is far from 
indulging a pra£lice lb fliameful ; fuch table-talk is hateful 
and fcandalous ; but, have we not too much reafon to 
blufli on relle£lion ? How little proceeds from our mouth 
in ordinary converfe which is good, to the ufe of edify? 
ing, that it may muiifter grace to the hearers \ 

It remains to obferve, the influence this manner of life 
bad upon the world about them. And it appears that 
this harmony, affeclion and faithfulnefs among themfelvcs, 
which it is reafonable to fuppofe was attended with an 
affiible and courteous behaviour to others, the genuine 
fruit of vital religion, gave the difciples an high reputaii- 
pn,for we arc told, they had <-'- favor with all the people.'"' 



228 LECTURES ON 

Some underftand this of the favor {hewn by the difciples, 
to all people i. e. fay they, their charity was not con. 
iined to themfelves, but extended to others who were 
not of their own community. And it muft be owned, 
that we are taught to do good unto all, but efpecially to 
the houfliold of faith, which catholic fpirit is fuited to the 
genius of the gofpel, yet this interpretatien feems ftrained. 
Thefe chriftians indeed were kind and condefcending to 
every one,but they had little opportunity of helping others, 
being themfelves, as a fociety, often in need, as hinted be- 
fore, notwithftanding the generofity of thofe who had pro- 
perty among them, which we have reafon to think were 
comparatively few ; it is therefore moft natural to ap- 
ply the paflage to the refpeft (liewn them by the people 
in general. This amiable fpirit and condu6l gained the 
good-will of the multitude, however reproached and vilifir 
ed by fome malicious unbelievers, who envied their unioil 
and fuccefs, and afterwards raifed bitter perfecution 
againft them. Neverthelefs, at prefent, their ftedfaftnefs 
in cleaving together in the Lord, and their holy conver- 
fation in other refpe£ls, manifefted their excellency to the 
confciences of thofe who betield them, who could not but 
admire, as in future periods it is recorded they did, info- 
much that it was common for the heathens to fay of the 
chriftians, with aftonifliment. Behold, how they love one 
another 1 Thus thefe difciples, like Jefus himielf, being 
made wife, increafed in favor with God and man. The 
Lord was vifibly with them, by the figns and wonders 
that were done by the apoftles, fo that " fear came upon 
" every foul,'* and their lovely deportment rendered 
them in a manner univerfally grateful. In this way fliould 
all who are feparated by a profeffed fubje£lion to the gof- 
pel adorn it, and by a favor of its divine influence in the 
whole of their conduft, gain the efteem of mankind ; for 
a loofe and light behaviour in perfons who pretend to the 
high calling of God, is fliameful, and ufually brings them 
into contempt : So true is it, " that they who honor God 
" fhall be honored, but they who defpife him fliall be 
" lightly efteemed," i Sam. ii. 30. Thus it is frequent- 
ly feen that a man whofe converfation is uncomely under 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, ^zq 

a religious chara6ler, is defpifed even by the world ; and 
he alone may expert to have efteem who acls up to his pro- 
feffion; it is the holy, juft and friendly behaviour of a peo- 
ple united in the fellowdiip of the gofpel that convinces 
3fnankind of their rmcerity^ and is likely to induce that re- 
fpeft, which may, under a bleffinc^, promote the faith of 
our Lord Jefus Chrift in the world. 

Such, I apprehend, was the manner of the fiffl; dlfciples 
at Jerufalem ; they cleaved to the Lord and one another 
with purpofe of heart, and were together, as we faw in the 
preceding le^lure, not only in point of afFe6lion and judg- 
ment, and in one church ftate, but they lived together as 
one family ; though on account of their number they were 
divided into feparate apartments or houfes, yet they had 
all things common, being each as they lacked lupplied 
from one ftock or fund, raifed in the manner defcribed. 
And now it appears that in this extraordinary fituation 
their time was employed in daily affembling themlelves in 
the temple for divine fervice, from whence they returned 
to partake together of the bounties of providence, break- 
ing bread from houfe to houfe ; with an holy chearfulnefs 
and unfeigned fnnplicity, they mingled their common meals 
for the refrefliinent of nature v/ith thofe communications 
of a fpiritual kind, whereby they were mutually excited 
to join in praifmg the Lord ; thus they lived a life of de- 
votion to God and mutual afteOion, which procured an 
univerfal efteem. O happy and honorable fociety ! How 
pleafant and blefled the communion, when the difciples 
thus walked together in the fear of the Lord, with inte- 
grity and brotherly love 1 Thefe were halcyon days, when 
there was nothing to difturb the public tranquility, or dif- 
quiet the hearts of the faithful, but all fair and ferene, to 
the glory of God and the joy of his people ! But, alas, how 
tranfitory this beauty and glaclnefs in Zion! It wa=i not 
to laft ; the faints muft be tried ; and Satan, who is the 
prince of the power of the air, foon obtained per million 
to blow up a tempeft, and threaten the ark of the Lord, 
In a fliort time, as he hath e-ver fiiice more or lefs, did the 
enemy, by a variety of cruel pcrfecutiouG, foul apoltafies 



230 L E C T U R E S O N 

and damnable herefies, tear and mangle the vifible body of 
Chrift, if poffibieto deftroy it ; but we know the church 
ftandslecure; the gates of hell fliall not prevail againil; 
her, to her ruin, or even fo as to prevent her perfedion 
in the end, yet this primitive glory of the church is in a 
meaiure gone off for awhile, and her members have not 
that fatisfa6lion and joy in her communion the difciples 
had^ when in the iimplicity of her infant ftate. 

But now, my dear Reader, it may be proper to obferve, 
that you are not to expe£b, or even wiQi for a communion 
fo circumftanced, in every refpe6l, as that in which the 
difciples were united before the gofpel was fpread, and 
chriiHan churches eftabliihed. It is plain, as obferved, 
that a community of goods, and living together as thefe 
chrifiians did, is now contrary to the word of God, and 
jnconfillent with the duties of our holy profeffion, in the 
church and in the world ; fo that, as I have (liewn, every 
pretence of forming ourfelves in this manner, under a noti- 
on of coming near to the original pattern of chriflianity, is 
unfcrjptural and vain ; neverthelefs, the union, affe«flion, 
fimplicity, and manners, of the firil: difciples, fo far as 
they confid with the plan laid down in the New^Tefta- 
nient, are certainly much to be defired, yea and to be ho- 
ped for in waiting on the Lord ; at leaft, keeping himfelf 
in the love of God, each one may expefl a conformity in 
fome good raeafure to this amiable ftandard, and the 
fpirit of religion being ip.variably the fame, I (hall 
clofe the lefture with a few brief remarks by way of 
refledion. 

And firft we may note, that it is the inclination and 
the intereft of the difciples of Jefus, as much as may be, 
to affociate together. It is in the nature of intelligent 
creatures to be fecial ; fo that they who, being called, 
have cail in their lot, as heirs together of the grace of 
life, fliould naturally cleave to each other in the Lord. 
The believer can truly appeal to his God and declare, in 
the words of the Pfalmiil:, *' I am a companion of all them 
*• that fear thee, and or them that keep thy precepts^'* 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 231 

Pfalm cxix. 63. His heart's defire is to the fellowQiip of 
the faints, the excellent of the earth, in whom is all his 
-delight ; and while brotherly love continues, the faithful 
are manifeftly glad of each others company, infomuch that 
whatever appearance there may be of indifferency to this 
among nominal chriftiaes, in a f>ate of lukewarmnels and 
forrowful divifions, it is certain that this holy and happy 
inclination or delire keeps pace with the life 'and power 
of godlinefs ; a decay from this, which is the fame with 
a defection from the love of God, is a principal fource of 
that dangerous, and for the moft part fatal drawing back, 
the forfaking the affembling of ourfel ves together. Frequent 
affemblies are abfolutely needful to fupport achurch-ftate, 
and the building ourfelves on our raoft holy faith, without 
v/hich a people cannot keep themfelves in the love of God, 
as directed Jude ver. 20, 21. Nor can believers in a fo- 
cial or private capacity, expecl to flburifli without them, 
but in keeping together on every occafion they knit fafter 
in love, and become endeared to one another in confequence 
of reciprocal a6ls of kindnefs and friendihip. It there- 
fore is of great advantage to theintereft of religion, when 
they who fear the Lord are fbeking every fit opportuni- 
ty to converfe together: And this will be the cafe when 
perfons are in good earned, feeking firft the kingdom of 
God and the things which are Chrift's. They may be 
providentially interrupted from alfociating ; but, being 
confirained by divine love, <l|ey are no fooner at liberty, 
butj like Peter and John, when let go from their confine- 
ment by the Jews, they joyfully return to their own com- 
pany, which is no other than their brethren in Chrift. 
• 
Again ; this example proves that they who aifociate 
in the fear of God, are difpofed, and will ftudy to im- 
prove their meetings together to their fpiritual advan- 
tage. In the temple or ailemblies of the church, this is di- 
re(iUr and profelTedly in view: but I principally refer to 
chiiftians when met in their own houfes, or occafion- 
aliy from time to time in any other place ; particularly 
their vifus one among another, in which they have an 
hofpitable intercourfe, and chearfuUy partake of the boun- 
ties of Providence, as relations or friends ; fuch opportuni- 



1'^% LECTURES ON 

ties may be employed to the purpofes of religion, without 
infringing on a becoming regard to things of the world. 
I am far from cenfuring difcourfe on fubje6ls which ref- 
late to civil and natural life, which is fometimes becom- 
ing and ufeful ; but then, fliould they fpend their v/hole 
time on temporal things ? Is thei'ia no opportunity on fuch 
occafions to communicate fomething for the foul, and 
which relates to eternity ? And, is it not decent and 
profitable for them who are heirs of falvation, if poffible, 
to make every feafon fubfervient to their meetnefs for 
glory ? We have feen that there is the higheft reafon to 
conclude that the firfi; difciples, at their common meals, 
refrefhed one another with fpiritual things. And it is 
certain, with this expectation Paul defired to have an in- 
terview with thechriftians at R.ome : " For I long to fee 
*' you, (faith he) that I may impart fome fpiritual gift 
" unto you, to the end that ye may be eftabhflied ; that is, 
'' that I might be comforted together with you, by the 
*•■ mutual faith both of you and me," Rom. i. ii, 12. In 
which place, I apprehend, the apoftlc doth not fo much 
intend his imparting extraordinary gifts, or what he 
might communicate in the exercife of his office, as their 
conferences in relation to faith and experience, fince their 
commupications were mutual, at leall I think there is no 
reafon to queftion that thefe are included j and it would 
tend much to a revival of a fpirit of rehgion among us, if 
it was the fludy of chriftians to accomodate their vilits 
in this manner to the promoting of their fpiritual intereft. 
Eut permit, my dear Reader, a word of advice. In order to 
carry on this pious defign two things are needful: firft, that 
thefefriendly entertainments at home are focontrivedas not 
to interfere with the appointed feafons of the fanduary. Is 
it becoming a chrillian to fay, I have a friend on a vilit, and 
therefore cannot come up to the houfe of tlie Lord t 
I'his is fometimes the cafe, through companions who fear 
not his name, or it may be through careleflhefs, which are 
both to be avoided by him who would profit in religion. 
No appointment for focial entertainment in thy own ha- 
bitation, fhould ordinarily take place againft ftated and 
known feafons fet apart for affembling in the church* 



PRIMMUVE CHRISTIANITY. 233 

Tliis may be thought by fome rather too ftri£l ; but a 
man, who thirds after God, will fo order his affairs, and 
when he can, deny himfelf at home rather than be depriv- 
ed of an opportunity in the houfe of the Lord. And 
then it is further neceifary to obtain this advantage, that 
our civil and friendly entertainments be mingled with 
exercifes of a fpiritual kind, which confift with thofe 
meetings, fuch as praying together, and fome ferious and 
heavenly difcourfe ; furely this might give life and joy to 
a company of believers, when regaling themfelves in mo- 
deration with the good things of life, witlibut abating a 
defirable relilh in their natural enjoyments. Certain I 
am that this is the way to be filled with each others 
company, as it is expreffed in Rom. xv. 24. Whereas, 
through a total negle6l of thefe things, we often empty 
one another inourvifits, and come together, not for the 
better, but for the worfe, at lead in refpedl of the 
Ibul. ' "' ' 

It may further be noted, that one fruit of that faith 
which worketh by love, is an hofpitable and liberal fpi- 
rit. The primitive chriftians are a noble example of the 
power of the gofpel in this refpeil; it enlarged their 
hearts to be generous in parting with their fubftance for 
the common good, without any refervc to themfelves ; 
this, indeed, in ordinary circumftanceS, is not required, but 
the jove of God will certainly purify a man from covet- 
oufnefs, and promote in him a bountiful dilpofition* 
Thus, no foonerwas the heart of Lydia opened, but the 
doors of her houfe were open to receive the miniflers 
and difciples of Jefus, A6ls xvi. 15. The apoftle James 
aflerts, that faith without works is dead, and likewife 
fliews that works of mercy and love are eflential to that 
which is faving: nor can any thing be more contrary to 
the real fpirit of chriftianity than a morofe, narrow and 
felfilh temper. That man who is not willing to fliew 
kindnefs, and do good to every one, but efpecially to his 
brethren in the Lord, as dire6lcd in the gofpel of Ghrift, 

F f 



^34 LEGTjUtRES ,(^^.: 

fliqul^lpok to himfelf. If wp do;not as it.were livaftithje 
lainiis feet, and rnin^fter to tfie^lr neceffities according to 
our Ability, yea and alio delight ip fhewing all manner of 
reJTpei^ to the people of God, we AV.a,nt an eflenxial evidence 
of grace in the heart. Let no unprofitable profeffor flat- 
ter himfelf, for pure religion is love ; not in word and 
}Vi torip-ue, but in deed and in truth. 

Moreover it appears that jthe fruits of faith are abiding. 
Thefe chriftians continued in their harmony and love; 
ttey were not, as fome, unflable as water ; neither is 
ti%e religion a fickle or tranfitoiry. thing, nor is it partial. 
j-Je tbat?ears God, is habitually cqnllant and upiyerfalin 
obeying the truth ; and this will appear in his behavipur 
finder a profeffioh of the gofpel. 'I'o which may be added, 
tfiat the believer finds unfpeakable delight in the vyE^ys of 
the L6r4 ; they are ways of pleafantnefs, and paths of 
peace to his foul. Strangers conceive not the gladnefs 
and joy that attend tlie faints who walk together in love, 
in the order of Chri ft. Their communion is fweet, who 
can fay, " Have fellowQiip with us ; truly our fellovvfliip 
" is with the^ Father, and wit.b, his Son Jefus Chi^ift. 

Finallj);, wefee ijhat,. the yifible andeldb union of chrillr 
ians,' and their mutual of^ces of kindpefe, is a ftriking evi- 
dence to all around thern of their real religion. By this 
faith is feen, and tlie world is corivinced, Wherea? fliort 
of this teibrnony, the greateft attainmeqt in knowledge 
jind gilts, or the higheft, profel]ion of zeal for the truths 
and ordihances of the gofpel, is. vain; it fails, of proving 
a man ufider the dominion of grace. He is nothing who 
j[)ath not this charity, in the exercife of which the doc- 
irine of God our Saviour is adorned^;, but, in this.prac* 
tice of piety and. goodnefs, the, calling and eledion of the 
ehrrlliun appears. Thus faith the Lord, "By this lliaU 
^*' all men knowr.that^ye are my diiciples, that ye love 
"one a«otherift;John xiih 35. May the Spirit of love 
arid of a; found mind be poured out from on high, on aH 
thut callon the name of the Lord, that, being thus found 



PRIMI1?IVe; GH'RISTIA^I^T Y. 2^15 

in- the' faith', "th^j*^ may albbutid in every fruit of righte- 
oufnefs; to the cdnVt^l'ioH of gamfayers, and the praiie of 
the gl6ry o£^ him that liath called them out' of dafkb^fs^" 
ji^to' his trtar vellbus light I 



»r 



■ ■> , -» II II f i ll ■*i. -1ff' | -| -I .*— »-.i r >ii S l. 11 , 1 - 1 "■ ' -V- ^ =:^=rTfggB^4 



L E' c '-t'Wt t :j^5cP''<5' 



-J}': irhe dMiyvincreas&i of the, prim live Cbiircb^^^ 



'K 



M O N G all the extraordinary and entertaining 
_^ things related of the fa.ints at,]erufalem> it is none 
of the leaft'that the Lord was iyitH them. He crowned 
his gqi"pe-lr with continual Tuc'cefs, arid the number of 
dirciples"^ multiplied greatly ; for we'afe^^told^' tha't ^' tK^ 
*^ Lord added to the church daily fucli «s Ih'oiildbe fa|y- 



4C. 



^. ed.'* It was their glpry arid liappinefsto be in perfe£i 
liarmony arid love, and m favor ^yith "tnaii^ but ftiil Wort^ 
fo to enjoy the vifible prefence and blefling; bf^^hovah j 
the beauty of the' Lord th^ir God was upon themv and he^ 
eftablilhed the work of theirhands. In tl^s' j[)leafing ac?-^ 
comit the following particulars' are included, ' namely> tHCj 
denominat'iori'uiidei: which the difciples' ai'e mentioned., 



^36 L E C T U RF:.S- 9 Ml K. 

their daily, increafe, by whom thefe additions w^Ye made^ 
and the peculiar defcription of thofe who were joined. 
A review of thefe articles, with brieif notes upon them,, 
and fome reflections, will be the fubjed of this ledure , and 
finifti our defign on this ufeful part of facred ecclefiallical 
hiflory. 

The Englifh term churchy under which thf -fcithful her^ 
firft ftand deferibed, an expreffibn often repeated in the 
New-Teftament, is derived from two words, which may 
be rendered, *' the houfe or habitation <;f the Lord."—-- 
Thi^s the temple at Jerufalem. is frequently fliled; and 
a like phrafe is ufed of the fpiritual tei^riple, " the 
" houfe of God," i Tim. iii. 15. over whom now Chrift, 
who is the true God, prefides fole law-giver and king, as 
ijt is written, Heb. iii. 6. " But Chrift as a fon over his 
f*; own hpufe, whofe houfe are we." But the.Greek word 
ufed here, and in all other places where churph intends a 
fociety of believers in order, is of another import, and 
fignifies to be called out ; {o that the iimple and native 
idea of a church, is a; cpmpany of called perfons aJpTem- 
<feled together, which exa«Elly correfponds with the true 
liotion of a chriftian or gofpel church, which is no other 
than a company of faints, who, being called by grace, ac- 
cording to the divine purpofe, are built together, by a fpe- 
cial covenant, and affociating themieiyes in one time and 
place, for a mutual enjoyment oj the appointments o^ ^^^ 
Lord and Redeemer. 

Cuftom'has rendered it tolerable j but, however early 
or common^heword has been applied to a houfe or place 
of aflerably, as frequently to this day, it is neverthelefs 
very improper: and though it might at firft be innocently 
introduced, and is now uied by many, who are far from 
intending any thing unworthy the fpirituality of gofpel- 
worftiip, this liberty, has been abufed j inftead of an ordi- 
nary houfe or apartment, as at firft, {lately piles have 
been ^aifed, framed and adorned in a peculiar manner, un^ 
der the name of a church, by which the vulgar have been 
captivated to a fuperftij^ig^^y^p^ration for material build- 



PRIMi^iVE CHRISTIANITY. 237 

Ings ; it is thferefore-;t6 be wiihed, that this undue applica- 
tion of the word was' renounced. Though feme refpe^la-f 
ble perfons have'Been otherwiie minded, I take leave to 
fay, that I appfeHfend the meeting-place of the faithful for 
divine fervice is rib where in Icripture certainly called a 
church. Thepaffage in i Cor. xi. 18. is thus interpret- 
ed by Ibme, " when ye come together in the church," i. e. 
fay they'i'intW'^he place of meeting, which is thought to 
be confirriVe'd1)y what follows, ver. 20. " when^5'ecdme 
" together therefore into one place." But, with fubmiff- 
ion, coming into the church is eafily underftood ■ khd may 
fignify no t)tii^1:* than afTembling together iii'a^^hui'ch meet- 
jng; and^ilHblt'^h it is true that fuch me(?tii^&{ niiift be 
held in la'paft-rc'ular' place, yet the original- S^dfds' do not 
determinate ■^it1:^f)i<:al, but rather refer to the tinity oftHe 
perfons AHrhp met, than to the place in which-t^hey affeiA^ 
bled ; they are the very words ufed in A6ls ii. ii^:^;^^ ^relidy 
confidered in le£lure XVIII. Alfoin chap.'^irfr iw And 
again, in chapter iv. and the 26th verfe. Now it cannot 
in either of thefe paiTages defign a place or houfe 'of meeting. 
And asi to the church the diford^rly Corinthians are fufpe6U 
leH of defpifing, mentioned ver. 2^2. it can by tlo m-feans -be 
^gbplied to a material building, -unlefs we fuppbfe it coht^. 
crated by divine authority, and therefore holy as the Jewilli ' 
lanfluary of old; but however fome may plead for it, ho 
fcripture-warrant has yet, and I prelume,neverwillbe pro- 
'dlicedfor this rela'tive fan6lity in material buildings under 
the gofpel-difpenfation. The church of God, whom thefe 
wanton profeflbrs are fuppofedto contemn, and thofe whom 
they put to ft-iame, by the indecent and uncharitable prac- 
tice reproved, appear to me to be one and the fame''; they 
are defcribed as ^^ having Or poffeifing nothing,-' i. e. the 
poor, who may Well be ftiled the chOrch, lince they were 
a part, yea and it is reafonableto fuppofe the major part of 
the church ; for, " hath not God choiien the poor of this 
** world, rich in faith and heirs of the k'ingdom .^" 

This cxpreffion is ufed of different forts of^aff^mblies ; 
for inftance, the town-clerk of Ephefus fo ftiles the multi- 
tude of crafts-men who gathered againft the apollle, at the 



238 L E QT U^R E S G N 

motion or call of: Demetrius, the filver-fmith^ . A£ls. xlx* 
4.1. And in verfe 39, of that chapter, the fame wordis. 
uft'd for an orderly court of Juftice, in •whicb heteilsther 
fe<iitiouSv th&ir caufe, if they had any juft complaint, mights 
be;legai!y .determined ; other applications of the, terra may^ 
be produced, but- for the luoil part, as here, it refers. to 
the church: of God,; fometii^es to the inviiible and catho- 
lic church, which com prrehends the, "whole eleftion of grace, 
who are or ihall be faved, and may be confidered as called' 
in thecUviiJe, purpofc. This is the church •which is thci 
bjL>dy of Chrift, over whom hfi is given to be head, the ful^ 
ni^fs of. ham, that: filleth all in all, Eph. i. - iz, 23. even- 
that ehurCh^w^iom Ghrift - loved, andjgave himfelf for, .and 
ranfomed with; his blood, out of eveiy kindred, tongue and 
nation, whofe names are written in heaven, and who, be-, 
ing compleitely gathered, flialf at laft app^ear in'one g^rie- 
TaIai)4iglo^4QWS: aifembljTjan^ together po&fs the kingdom 
pg-ei^ar^id :6N'tbeHv fffOrnftbe fpundation- of - the world. 

Som^ , n^jFrtberi the-' p^iTage befor^r us.^M%ti:-1;hi3'fe' tha^ 
fpeak of the.church in' iki& general fenfet-buVit is plainly 
hiftorical^^ aiid refers to the faints-in order at Jerufakm- 
It is frequently taken for. the vifible chtir<:hon earth' uni- 
verfrilly^ or, .as thefathers' esprefleditr^'-thie church dilV 
*f.perfed through the world to. the ends ^f the earth^"/* 
Thus we read, A<^s xii. i. that Hervod, that bloody man^ 
vexed certain of the church.' And^agam,-0^.;ii I3i faw^ 
Paul, ''■ 1 periecuted the church,'' i. e»- the difcipleSr6F']fe^ 
fus, whereever he found them. Ads ix. i. So theii^t isr 
taken for all that call on the nam© of the rLord in every 
place, I Cor. i. 2. But the word- is more- frequently ap- 
phed.to a particular community-, as^iii the inftance before? 
us* The difeiples were now, a bod}^' (Corporate, afiem-r 
tding themfelves for chriftjan worfhip. and difcipline, un* 
d^r the immediatedire<Slion of the appfllcs I the fir(l chrift-? 
ian church exifling^ and which, though not yet compleatly 
organized^ (extraordinary circumflances excepted) which 
the ferious enquirer may eafily diftingulQi, is. the -origiaial 

* 'Enquiry into the primitive church, p^. 2.^ 



PRIMtlTiVE CHRISTIANITY. 239 

paitt,ern of »feUaw(hip in the gofpel. Thus as the difciples 
w^re firft C'^Uled -cUriftians r^c Antioch, fo in a foeial capa- 
Qj-ty Ith^y were fiuft ftiled a Ghurch at Jerufaleni. Hence- 
fcirwftrd, ibeiug t^ays ..united, and walking; together in eve- 
ry i^l^fCy they were calded a cjiurch. Of thefe churches, 
we h^ve lepn there w^ere smany .ip the tim€ of the apollles. 
A^d accordi<ngly w^ read df tlie churches of Judea, Gala- 
tea, ]VIaced^nf£^, asid Afia, and likewife of all the churches 
of the faints. Th^fe churches were originally of the fame 
faith and order; they each held the faine doctrine, and 
the ordinances were the iams in every community, i Cor. 
yii. 17, and they maintained a refj>e<5lful and affeflionate 
Gorrefppndf n.^^ with each other, by meflfengera, letters of 
commendation and advice, with every office of love in their 
power, as circumftances required ; things too little regard- 
ed in a ftatQ of lukewarmnets and diviiion, being always dif- 
couraged by covetous and diforderly perfons, who ferve 
their own belly, and not the Lord Jefus Chrift, but in 
which the ftr it difciples abounded, as the fcriptures declare; 
neverthelefs each congregation or incorporated fociety 0% 
C;Uviftiatis was independent, in which alfo the feat of go- 
verijifliient^ and c^tVfficJent means of perfonal adiftcation 
\va^ Couti?j4, under their prap^i; pallors and guid<frS, in th^ 
^xerciCe of wbofe di&rent functions the ordinancos were 
4ut^ a4Ti?i»iftj?e4. Thisi is? the denomination which thef 
{^fq^iE^^^d-difcipip* ,cap>e under from the beginnings the 
church ; and this is the proper character o£ clvriftiaws join- 
ed ;in the order of the goipel, they area church, or an ai- 
f^mbly^cajled <Mi« and' ^theredftom t?kiswarld;. not that 
tl^^ members of this iacred fociety can^ always be together 
ifl.©^e,pla«e,^but the. pnapriety of this- appellation is evi- 
dt^qt; in that, as in all bodies, corporate, their appearance 
apd. operations- depend on. llat(;d and frequent airembling 
thaaifelv,QS togetlier^ which, wag the daily pr-a^lic-e of thtj 
f<^intS;at Jerufulem-; and.the. furiukiiig, of which, in every 
a§e,.apd.piacevis.the firil,(lo-,p, and- an^high-Way to apoftacy 
and rwiiij. both of communit-ie& luid particular-perfons. 

WJe are nQ\y, to conrid^.tjl)e7incfro^f^ C^f this-c^Huch at 

Jftrji;l^<am. . Xhe4:e v^.^fef. ^Qf)U(i;Vj,a|,.ja44JRi>>nM.,,u^.ti>. it: 



:i40 L E C T U R L S O N 

" added to the church daily." A church is a changeable^ 
body, compofed of individuals who are mutable. Many^ 
are the viciiiitudes in providence, by which the members 
oFa particular gofpel -church are removed, and at beft the 
per4<?ns who compofe them, like the priefts of old, conti- 
nue not by reafon of death ; befides, they are liable to be 
corrupted, in confequence of which it is too often feen, 
they make fliipvvreck of faith, or behave fo unworthy their 
profeflion, that it is needful to put them away, or to purge 
them out as old leaven, for the prefervation of the body, 
the honor of religion, and the conviction and fafety of the 
delinquent himfelf. On thefe, and on jOther accounts, 
churches ^re often diminiflied, and for want of additions 
brousjhtvery k>w, yea andin fomeinftances entirely dilTolve ; 
but the church at Jerufalem was in a thriving and profper- 
o us condition , the word of God grew exceedingly, and 
multitudes glaidly i-eceived it, and joyfully fubmitted them- 
fcives to the name of Jefus. They came daily to the 
a|X)ftles, and were baptized and added to the Lord. In- 
deed difciples were not multiplied every day equal to the 
number ^f the firft gathering, in which the increafeof one 
dayvvas three thoufandj'ye^ihegoi'pel had free courfe into 
the /hearts of many, and brought them tb the obedience of 
faith, infomuch that every time the difciples met, at lead 
in general, there were fomeihlbinces of the power of God 
in a vifible fiibjeftion of fmners to the Saviour as their 
fovereign and king. 

- But, who made thefe additions ? The hiftorian declares, 
" it- was the Lord." It is the Lord's doing, and to him 
it ought to be afcribed. Minifters' are inftVuments for the 
conviftion and perfuafion of men, that they may believe 
and be faved ; they preach the wbrd of faith, and it pleaf- 
eth God by the foblilhnefs of preaching- to fave them that 
believe ; but faith is the gift t)f God, "Who is Paul, and 
"' who is;Ap.ollos, but minifters by whom ye believed, even 
*' as the Lord gave to evefyihan r'* i Gor. iii. 5. Again ; 
thofe who are called,- being made willing in the day of 
God's power, freely affer thenifelves ; and alfo the dif- 
ciples with whom they arecemented, have their concera 



P R I M't ri V^. : CH H IS T f A 2^ I T Y. ^2;^ 

m this iinT<2>d, wtell takes pl'd-dd', as we ba<^ f6^n, by mu- 
f-u^l ednfefetv Thm 4A\ pki^€fes ofce dM^e tov^ris the 
iiMit^ofi ^? pdt^evii tKb any pkt^ticular chui'ith, after the 
csacrvp'I'e ^fei^e us. Peter knd Jcyhti preached tibe word, 
■^ho-, Withti*ie iaifift^nc-e of W:hers, b«pt42r^d the pdmtent, 
atid were ?nftt*u'0>en-t'al of joih^tioj them to the ehufch ; the 
Are^bers of which in refp^^ of their rec-epftioii of tb^ffi 
ititb their body, may be l-bo^ked ttpon as adding fuch pe^r- 
fohs, arid felfb the pifftty rfecei^s^ed is eoii'ceJi^ed in this ^tffli- 
Gti,- who, oh aecoutA ©"f bis A^olurit-ary farrender and ad- 
befehceto Ghri'ft,is declared in propibeey tob&'^fe "joined 
*' himfeff to the Letd," Tfa. Ivi. 3 . Nevertbelefs, Wh^fi 
a chttrch is inereafed in the nuftiber of the faitbfM, a^nd 
bui'k li^pa fpiri-t-dM bo^jfe for 4i vine fei'vidc^ it miift be itl- 
timat^tyr^ei^re^'^o t-life gt*ace and pdWfer of G(>d. Wbkii 
Tead^, <'■ 

Finally, to the remaining article in this facred account^ 
haiiiely,' tbe peculiar defcription of tbdfe who were jo'med 
by the Lord to his people. It is declared tliat they were 
**-fiich as fliould }>e faved." Some would confine the 
fenfe of t'Ms pbtafe to their e)btaimhg the means of falva- 
iioii, Wt then ail Who heard the word fhould have been 
lifiit'ed to the chiirch, wb^rests i't h manifeft t%at fome on- 
Jy, tbou-gb a gf eat niirilber, ev^n they only were -added, 
who itce'ivefd tbe gofp^^l, ^nd'#ere baptized in the n-ame 
of Jefu'Si Th'e minilltatibil of the Word i^ a diftinguifti* 
ititg favoV, aiid wo be to thiith who negle^ or defpife it ; 
htid be tb^t is thoifghtful about bis falvation iftay jiifftly en- 
courage hii^fdffi^m the enjoyment df tbe mfettti^, in a 
hope tbat the Lor'd Will have mercy upon him ; for though 
lAany inddlgdd in tike^itatrtier, periffi in tMr fms through 
tinbelief,i yet tht^ gi^ailt fr'oiYi heaven is a leading ftep to- 
w-ards the falvitidn of the eleft ; therefm-e great is the 
privilege of "^ gofpel-mihifbry, and to be higbiy efteemed ; 
but it is one thing to be of tlvem to whom rbbfulvation of 
Ood, I. e. the word of ifalvatioh is feRt, A'^s xxviii. 28. 
knd anotiief thihg to be of siicb as sboiiM he Saved, The 
saved is a phrafe which i^aWds oppofcd to the tost or the 
G g 



342 L E c T u R E s /:^N^: 

perifhed, to both which the gofpel is evidently preacli- 
ed : it is ufed only in two other places, which may ferve 
toilluftrate the point. In i Cor. i. i8. we read, "the 
" preaching of the crofs is to them that perifli foolifh- 
" nefs ; but (fays the apoftle) unto as that are faved, it 
^' is the power of God." And again, 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. 
fpeaking of the acceptance which faithful, minifters find 
with God, however fome to whom they preach may 
treat their report, and receive or reje£l it, he faith " we 
" are unto God a fweet favour of Chrift in them that are 
" faved, and in them than periQi.'* Now in both thefe 
paffages we fee that the saved and the lost are oppofed to 
each other, and that both the one and the other fat un- 
der the report of the gofpel. It is therefore plain that 
thefe perfons, of whom it is declared that they are fuch 
as ftiould be faved, are not thus defcribed, becaufe they 
enjoyed the means of falvation, but to diftinguilh them 
from thofe who, nctwithftanding they were thus favored, 
periflied in their infidelity. So then, the lost, or them 
that peri(h, are the difobedient, who, being left to them- 
felves, perverfely rejeft the counfel of God ; and though 
they may take up a formal proFelTion of Chrifl, yet having 
no root in themrelves. they fall away and come ihort of the • 
proinife : and the' sabedi in oppofition to thefe, are fuch, 
who, being efFe£luaIly called, are truly obedient to the 
faith, and will perfevere unto life ev^rlafting, being, as it is 
expreffed, '^ not appointed to wrath, but to obtain felv^- 
*' tion by our Lord Jefus Chriil,'' i 'J'hefiT. v. 9. This 
phrafe therefore amounts to the fame with that ufed of 
the Gentiles at Antioch, A£ls xlii. 48. of whom it is 
faid, " that as raan37 as were ordained to eternal life, be- 
" lieved.'* Such who fliall be faved are fuch who are or- 
dained to eternal life, and accordingly obtain like preci- 
ous faith with God's ele6l, and having openly fabmitted 
themfelves to Jefus, " are not of them who draw back 
" unto perdition, but of them who believe to the faving 
" of the foul," Heb, x. 39. Thefe are the faved, " fav- 
*' ed and called with an holy calling, not according to 
" their works, but according to his own purpofe and 
*' grace, which was given them in Chrift Jefus before the 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. ^43 

"'world began,'' a Tim. 1. 9. fuch are " faved by grace, 
"■through faith, and that not of themfelves, it h the 
" 'gift of God/' Eph. ii. 18. In a word, fuch are faved, 
V't. *' being called, they are juftified by his grace, and 
*>''teade heirs according to the hope of eternal life," Tit. 
iiiJ 7. " nor (liall their hope make them aftiamed, for 
"V whom he juftified them he alfo glorified," Rom. viii. 30. 

'^This then is the fumof the account, that the Lordfo 
ablindantly owned the preaching of the gofpel, and prof- 
pered his church at Jerufalem, that there were daily ad- 
ditions, not barely of nominal chriftians, but they were 
rfiultiplied with the chofen of God, who were called ac- 
c<ifrding to his purpofe, being ordained to eternal life: 
Their inercafe was of fuch as (liould be faved in the day . 
of the Lord. To be of this number, my Reader, will 
hereafter be found of infinite importance to eachindivi- 
^tifal, and it is the glory and happinefs of a church to be 
filled wi til fuch members j tberefore " give diligenqe to 
*^'tr\'dke thy calling and eie<^io.n. Cure," and let the Lord 
ha^e' no reft till he thus beauti-fies the houfe of his glory^, 
*** and makes Jerusalem a praifeJiQ tUe whole earth, an 
♦*^i&tcrflal excellencv, and the^jby .of many generations." 

:;?';■ iln refle<5ling on this -true and delightful hiftory of the 
s^rft chrirt|aiT«; in their coinmunion together, we are led in* 
to a view vpf^^be following tryths ; 

Note I. That the communion of faints is clearly a di- 
vine inftituti'on. It was under the direction of the apof- 
tics who received their goramiflion from the Lord, and' 
who were infpired by the fioly Ghoft, that the difciples 
at firft were gathered into church-order, and continued fo 
to be in every plaqe where the gofpel obtaiued. 

Man by the excellency of his nature, as an intelligent 
being, is formed for fociety, and^by his relation to others 
obliged to aftbciate with them ; he cannot exert his ut- 
molt capacity, nor anfwer the end of his cxiftence, or find 
complcat happiuefs, but in a focial liate j and fmce the 



enjd of his b«iog is tpglqmfy Qo^ 4wJ ei>joy hifla, r^ligi^is 
focietv has b^^u argued from tb:e l^^ys of nature ; and, it> 
npyuft be acknowledged, t.hat churcbrf^llowniipis agreeable. 
to natural ligli.t^ butth« Qbliga,U«>ri pf he-liev^rfi to this fa-; 
cred union arirfes frgni the. ^ui^horky of God in lija "vvipH^dv 
wh© has dire<9bjed ottr waribip tbifpuigh Jefu&t,hf Mediatqv,: 
ia whofe name we gather t9g^t,he,?. Ghrift is }>ing;o£ 
faints, a fon over his own houfe, and he has not left his 
people without a pkb dire<^ioji, a?^d a pi'Qifniie fu^ci^iit 
to encourage theni m waiting upon hiui. I'he. i)>otiYe,formr, 
rule, audi end x)f tMs feljlo)vAip djepejid entirely on bi?f 
will ; nor 15 it ixi the. power ef any i^n, or fgt of mQu^],fi 
make laws; of gotvemment pr te^ms^ o^ ^oxfimuwn, Mhl^kt 
are not founded in the wosrd of the Lord, but qv^ry %\\]^y 
mull he done as he has ordained, a^Qording to the <?o,i)i^' 
miffion he gave his apoftles. Matt, xxviij. 18. 3q the^n^ 
church is not barely a foci^ty, wqv mcerly a fo£;^,ty 9f5 
believers, with a religious viqw> but a focjety formed xjw^ 
the order and difciplioe which Ghrij^ hath apppifitp^ ; -^f^d 
fertile faithful to incorpQrate a|\d walk together ip cbui;vh-» 
relation,, is no indiiereot matter> fpr it is not. of hufogfi 
invention, h0we.ver prudent and ufeful, but ati. appoint/* 
ment from beaven,.a5 9;pp€avs froni the\ condu^, pf th^fe* 
primitive chriftians, under the guidance of their author- 
ized andinfpired leaders, who taught theni to objfer\e <<-?// 
and oiily thofe things which the tord had CQmmai]dj$4U 
If the authority of thia holy covenant in the Lord wa^ 
duly confidered, it would not be fo generally negle6led ; 
for lincc it is of God, certainly every believer is called 
upon to. join hirafelf to fpme cpngr^gation, pn whom h^ 
difcerus the true notes pf a gpfpelTchurch, withoi^t whlcl} 
no man can difcharge his duty to ChriU, to his fellovv 
chriftians, or to his pwn fpul. W<? may therefore juiUy 
lament the growing omiflipnof thi§ divine ordcf:* ]3u^ 
again, 

Note II. The proper and authorized members of a 
chriftian church, are iUch only, who, in all appearance, 
are of them that Ihall be faved. Indeed the Lord ajone 
is certainly ac<ii^aimed with thefej he only knoweth theiq 



P R I M IT'S V E C Ji li I S T I A N I T Y. 345 

th^t -»!•<£ fed^,, &i^ few? ;^ife €g4$ pe,rtT>its otl^ers to intrude : 
bi4t they who are in- the gall of ^itternefs and bonds of 
imquity, rjQtwJthftancljng sthey hi^ve a notional faith, and 
^r€ feapti^exlj h^ye no paiFt pr lot in thi^ iHatter. Thk 
f|«iFitu^l houfe antj holy city fr)«ft fee built with holy ar4 
l[>iritLial perfens, ar)d care (koufd be tfjken that none but 
t4>f?fe whofe calling proves their jsledic^n of God, are ad- 
miit^ed into r})e fapred fociety. He that yields not the 
ffull? (9f P¥^}gfy^ca\ repei^tanqe, and a -found and lively 
£i^\tk io J§hjiSj has no claim to a place in 1)js chvirch : An 
i^pi^^jt^t, ^HgQjdly,, p^i'oiid, or felf-righteous inan jna)' impofe 
\)ifRi^l.Qn thp cprpp^ny, bi^t when tlie Kingfnfpecls thof^ 
■vykgar? at Ijis ^ab}g, the man who is nqt invefied with the 
\ye4!iing-garBf)ept, will be turned out with Ihame. That 
t\)P hoY^ hath determined tht^t his church in this (late of 
tjrial ihouj.d l^e liable to hyppcrir.es, appears from many 
i^priptures, ^nd frora the inftj^pces in which fome fuch turn 
^ppftates, and bgcopie j'qots of bitternefs, whereby many 
Qfe trpiibljs'd an4 ^^^filfeel: Ip that while it is meet we. 
fjiQpld .^bink w§]l &i ^^cb i;n our fellow fliip, and pray fof- 
him as one of the ^.hpfe« of ^od, there is Itiil biit*^ 
little reafon to exped that none fliall be added to his 
vifiblp' ehureh but fuch as fhall be faved ; nevertheiefs 
tl)e d,ivine decree tp permit other^ to mingle with hi$ 
C^ili^s, gives tbeninp right tp his fanduary, neither wili 
i^jrUrft'i-fy bM pi^pfit-^ffirig p.epple in receiving any into their 
§ofi?)muaion who api>ear deftivute of that grace which 
l^j^lpngs to the heirs qt falv^tion* This privilege of be- 
cpinjng the fpns of God, is given only to them who are 
j^orn of the fpirif, John i. 12. And we fliould be careful 
ihftt lively ftones ar^ placed in this temple of th^ moft High, 
1 P^j;. ii^ 3, 5, Ap4 as no other than quickened fmners are 
apppjinted, or authorized to a pi^ce in the church of th,^ 
K.ving God ; fo none but fuch can anfwer the end of this di- 
vin?i fellow(hip, which is to offer up fpiritual facrifices 
acceptable to Go4 by Jefus Chriil, and to build up one 
^ijother on their moil: holy faith unto eternal life : But 
are thefe things pofjibie with him that is dead in trefpaile? 
an4 ftn ^ Qan. a carnal o,r natural man offer up spiritual 
fejfiiQ^s I Can he that is in the fleOi, and out of Cbni'» 



246 LECTURES ON 

be acceptable to God who is-'a Ipirit, and who is well^ 
pleaf'id alone in bks Son ? Or, can the dead nourifli the 
Jiving ? No more can dead finners nourifh that livina: bo- 
dy the church, but this is eflfeiitial to the end of chriftian 
communion. A formal and lifelefs profefiion, in itfelf 
confidered, avails not to the glory of God, nor to the fal- 
vation of its fubje^l : and however the Lord may render- 
unconverted perfons, who join themfelves to his people, 
fubfervient to the purpofes of his grace, they are utterly 
incapable of fpi ritual communion, or properly and truly 
of fpiritual fervice, neither will it turn out to their ad- 
vantage in the end, Befides, though fucb are permitted, 
ftri£lly fpeaking, they are not added by the Lord. Our 
Saviour hath thewh who it is that foweth the bad feed:' 
hence tares grow up with the wheat, Matt. xiii. 39. the 
enemy that fowed them is the Devil,, Is an ungodly 
perfon or hypocrite found in the church ? Behold the 
hand of the Lord hath not planted him there : No, 
Friend, all his works are according to the counfel of his 
will'* • jefus is tJT[e^:|^m^, he.adds none to his* people but 
^'e^hfeis flioald be. faved* j^rBtiijth^n, 

Note Illi 'Fher-hanH'oflthe Lord is in every addition' 
of faved and fpTritual -membei^s to his viftble church. It- 
is by him alone a coramunity is inriched with.thefe eho- 
fen vefi^its of mercy : and when onefuch is added, it may 
truly be faid> '-'- God gave the increafe." By his fpirit 
they are regenerated and quickened for the fellow (hip of 
his faints, as the ftones were prepared for the temple, 
they are fitted to his fj^iritual houie, and by him they are 
drawn to the obedience of faith. However miniftcrs and 
churches, and the fubje£ls themfelves, as we have feen, 
are a£live, and have their voluntary concern in eccleliafti- 
cal union, it is alone by the will ar>d power of the moil 
High that his eleft are formed and difpofed for his fer- 
vice ; and as the arm of his grace is revealed in prepar- 
fng, fo the hand of his providence is nearly concerned in 
fixing one and another in this or that particular church. 
If the bound of our habitations is fixed, in refped^ of na- 
ttsiral and civil life, how much more will our heavenly 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 247 

Father lead his children unto a iituatibn in his houfe for 
the proteftion and nourifliment of their foul ? In fome 
inftances the word and providence of the Lord apparent- 
ly concur in fettling his faithful in this fpi ritual relation; 
this affords them matter of joy and thankfgiving ; but his 
concern and guidance in this refpe£l in every cafe is not 
to be doubted by thofe who truft him, for he is their ihep- 
herd, who maketh them to '* lie down in green paftures, 
<* and leadeth them befide the ftill waters,'' Pfaim xxlii. 
a. Yea. many a child of God hath feen reafon to adore 
and blefs him for the leadings of his providence, though 
by affli^ing changes in life, unto a place in his houfe, in 
which they have found fweet communion, and reft for tbe 
foul. So then, when a church is increafed by the union 
of one that is called by grace, and an heir of glory, (lie 
may rejoice and fay, alluding to Rachel's prophecy when 
Jofeph was born. Gen. xxx. 24. The Lord hath added 
to me another fon ! And, it may hereafter be the won- 
der and praife of the general alTembly and the cliurch of 
the firft-born, which are written in heaven, to behold 
thev/ifdom and grace of thofe dvfpenfations, whereby the 
chofen have been diftributed in Zion on earth. Howe- 
ver, each living member in a church is a fpiritual Jo- 
feph— an additibn from the Lord; and happy it is when 
the difciples receive one another as Chrift alfo received 
his apoftles, as the gift of the Father ; then would the 
l^ame of the Lord be magnified, and a mutual eftcem pre- 
vail among his people, to their unfpeakable honor and ad- 
vantage ! O that it was thus more frequently feen ! Lord, 
when wilt thou again pour out the Spirit from on highl^ 
When (hall the houfe of thy glory be filled, and. con- 
verts come up to thine altar, each one prefenting himfelf 
a lacrifice of joy ? and when fliall thy faints with admira- 
tion and gratitude fay, " who are thefe that fly as a cloud, 
** and as the doves to their windows ?" Once more, 

. Note IV. That additions from the Lord are of great 
importance to a chriftian community. An increafe of 
fpiritual and fruitful members, whofe temper and coDdu6l 
manifeft their calling and eleftion of God, are alor/j from 



i4S L £ C T U R E S U 

^imfelf, and a viable tok^ii of his pfefatice^ wJiich is md 
eMfa^6riftic of a true gofpel-fcburefo. Chrift Wjllkeib iti 
the midft of the golden eandlefticksy R^v. it i, ym md^ 
fmth, " where two or three are gathered tdgethrr' iW 
«^ ihy name, there I am in the mid# of thei^,'' Matt, 
xviii. 20. The Papift§ vainly hoaft iti thc^ii* nm^htf^ 
and pi^oudly ftjle theiiifelves tdtbalte^ ag if their prdffef- 
ion was uriiverfal, Which^ bleffed be Oody is faf f^oft* 

being true ; but iiiiittbef& are fiot the rtotfe of a Chttrfeh*^ 

The true church is exceeded in numbei- by th^ World 
ih general, and in fortte periods by atitichrift ih partifeti* 
lar, fo that there can be no dependattc& 6t\ mere papukf- 
ity; but this is certain, that the Loi-d i« prefent with his 
people; ^nd, fmce his adding unto Ihetft is 6"ne pfoof that 
he IS witli them, th(^u-gh he hath other fciild of mafiifed* 
ations of his pirefence to fatisfy his fainta^ When for a 
feafon an increafe is fufpcnded, thefe additions aft to be 
prayed for. BeBdes, the church*g edificgitidft depends ot^ 
.: the Lord's adding fuch to her nuttiben F&fmal profefT* 
ors may be an occafional advantage, but propedy fj^eak-^ 
jRg, Xhisfpiritual houfeis built up by them that are alive 
l^ntp God, Eph. iv. 15^ i6w They are fuch \VlW gtoW- 
*f , up into him in all things, which is the headj even Chriftj 
** f row whom the whole body fitly joined together, aiiid 
" compared by that whie-h every joint fupplieth, aeeofd- 
*' ing to the efFe<?li]al working in the meafure of every party 
'* rhaketh increafe of the body^ UtitO the ed4fyin* itfeif iii 
"love." From this finedeieription of the myftic^l body- 
of Chriii, it appeai*s that a particular church is cOnd^fciVe 
unto the edificatioii of his real metlibers, ih proportic^ti td 
the number and vigor of them who are vk ally itt him; the 
leaft of whom are of *5.dvahtage itt hi a gface^ priiyers, {pu 
ritual afFecftion, and gifts, and may be helpf\il to the gfeat^ 
eft particular member, and the body in genei*al, for *' the 
" head fliall not fay to the feet, 1 hM^e ho need of thee,"' 
I Cor. xii. 21. Thefs additions are therefore much to 
be defired, feeing no fplritual fruit can piT>ceed frorn na- 
tural men, but the int'reafe of them who are inChriftJe- 
fus, will add to the life and beauty of a churchi -And- 
further, the importance of :lm\*kig fuCh added will apjieaf^^ 



PRIxMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 249 

if we confider that without this a gofpel church-ftate can- 
not exift, but muft foon be broke up. As hinted already, 
it is meet to think well of all who profefs the gol'pel of 
Chrift, and who do not by their unworthy behaviour lay 
themielves under fufpicion ; neverthelefs there is but too 
much reafon to conclude, that in every church there may 
be fome who are not of the chofen and faithful ; nor would 
I pronounce it impoffible that vital religion may be fo funk 
in a chriftian fociety, that her members in general may be 
no better than formal profeflbrs. God forbid ! but I ap- 
prehend this may be the cafe j yet confidering the end of 
-this divine fellowlhip, it feems unreafonable to call that 
fociety a church of Chrift in which not one true chriftian 
remains ; but this may, yea it muft be the cafe with a 
nominal churc^ through the viciffitudes of providence in 
this mortal ftate, and that in a very few years, if the 
Lord doth not add fome real difciples. So then this fpi- 
ritual building, like all other ftru6lures on earth, and even 
the world itfelf, for reafons mentioned before, is fubje^t 
to decay,, and would fall into ruin, unlefs repaired by the 
hand of the Lord; It appears from 2 Pet. iii. 9. that 
the world itfelf is fuffered to continue for the fake of the 
chofen, that they may be faved, through the knowledge 
of the truth. By the reafoning of the apoftle in that 
place, when the number of the ele£l are accompliihed, 
the conflagration will immediately enfue, and the univerfe 
difTolve in the devouring flames of that fire, in which the 
Judge Qiall be revealed from heaven- In like manner, a 
particular church is maintained for the communion and 
edification of the faints ; and fince the purpofe of divine 
wifdom and grace can be no longer anfwered in a fociety 
who are utterly deftitute of living members, or hath no 
one quickened by grace left among them, what reafon is 
there to hope for their continuance as a people ? But if 
any are otherwife minded, of this we are certain, that if 
fuch a coirhnunity could be pointed out, llie would be no 
chriftian church, but on the contrary, of the fynagogue 
of Satan ; a company of hypocrites and impoftors under 
a facred profeftion I So then it amounts to the farne^ 

Hh 



250 LECTURES ON 

whether a foctety may or maynot ftand under this form"* 
Additions from the Lord of his faved- ones is needful to 
the continuance of a true gofpel- church, and therefore d£ 
the utmoft importance. 

Thefe are the particular dc^rin^s that refutt from this 
Jacred hiftory of the firft difcipks, and which ftand confirm- 
ed by the clofing fentenceof tiie evangelift's account j than 
:wliich no part is more interefting and pleafing. The fel- 
lowfliip of faints is an ordinance of God, that the called 
only, who are fuch as ftiall be faved, are meet for, or entit- 
led to this divine privilege, that thefe are added by the 
Lord, and that the addition of fuch by him is needful to 
4:he charade r, ediRcation, and continuance of a true gof- 
|iieLxhur^h. ^ 

It follows 'that a ciiriftian church is a fociety diftindl 
from the world. Thus ibe is defcribed by her Lord, Cant. 
iv« i^. " A garden enelofed is my fitter, my fpoufe, a 
*' fpringfhut up, a^ fountain fealed.'' Nothing can be more 
Contrary to the^nature xjf agofpel-'church than a fociety 
laid open and common. It is further evident, that in a 
particular vifible church alone, enelofed as the Lord hath 
direded, the feat of government is foimd. Indeed, through 
the carelefs habit of profeffors, difcipline may decline un- 
der any form of chriftvan communion ; and truly there 
feems now- little reafon for boafting in the order of many 
who^feparate fr<3m national eftablifhments, which is not 
to their praife \ but it has beeii: found, by forrowfulexpe . 
rrence, that a, godly difcipline cajmot be maintained in oh 
wpeTj church'ftate, the want of which is to this day juftly 
lamented 'by thofe who fear God of every dencrmination. 
It likewifeappearsfrom thefe^premifes, thatin takit^g op 
this fellowfhip a perfon joins him feif to the xhuTch ; and 
the relation which refults from this union to any minifter 
or {jarticular ..|>erfon depends on his connexion with the 
body ; and alfo that ev^ery thing' done or .fiTfTered in this 
order, is an a6l of obedience to the -Lord, in wbofm the 
chriiVianrejoiceth under the. fruition oCbis-privileg4;s in the 
houfe of God. A due conlid station of thefe points would 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY, ^i 

cjieck the prevailing fo.ndnetfs of popular, cofiftitjitiotis, and" 
reclaim many from the diforders they ipdujge, which he» 
trays an ignorance of the nature:^ and fubverts th?^ deilgn 
of this facred infHtution* 

And here again let nte intreat the Reader to, confidei', 
fince this is the appointment of he^vien, who^ can deny 
the propriety and obligation of evei^ belie ver to fubfljit 
to his Lord, and to walk before hira muniianwithhlspelo-i 
pie. If the communion of faints was no mor^ thaa a Ijawft 
ful and prudent affociation, adapted to the honor of God, 
and their mutual advantage, would it be any inft^nc.^ of 
piety, wifdom or goodnefs, to defpife or negle£lt it? But, 
feeing it as a divine inftitution, muft not the confcience o.^ 
every chriftian dictate his obedience? TbegreatDr/Qweii 
lays it down as an allowed maxim, and I fee no ejfceptir. 
on, "- that every believer is bound,, by virtue of pofttive- 
" precepts, to join himfelf to fome fueh liflgle congregati- 
" on, having the proper marks of atruechurch of Ghrift.'* 
AH reputable and'^orderly perfous, however they may dif- 
fer in tlieir opinions about particular forms, agree in this;: 
That the difciples of the Redeemer are bound to his or-, 
dinances, without delay or exceptioii ; nor will any refufe. 
14; who feriouily ponder the commiffi-on given by our Lord 
to his apoftles, to baptize in his name, and teach thofe wha 
have been baptized to obferve all things whatfoever- ha 
hath commanded them ; yet how many linger and fcruple 
to the end of their days, and thereby lofe the opportunity^ 
for bearing their tcftimony to the name of Jefus in the 
world ! 

To this facred fellowfliip every faint fliould be admitt;e4 
pn a credii^le teftimony of his repentance.. And' here it is 
proper to confider in what way it becomes a believer to 
teility his- faith to the fatisfadion of the choiTch. The 
propriety of chriftians being fully perfuaded of ai meetnei^ 
in thoi-e whom they receive into communion, as obferved 
in apreceeding le^dure J, is fo obvious that it will fcacCe 

\ Page 129. 



25^ LECTURESON 

be difputed ; the queftion is, in what form this fatisfa£lion 
ought to be given ? Far be it to infift on terms of commu- 
nion not prefcribed by our Lord, and for which we have 
not the example of his infpired apoftles 1 But my opinion 
on this article of focial religion, in favor of an ancient cuf- 
tom too much neglefted, will, I hope, be received with 
candor ; and that if my Reader is convinced that it cor- 
refponds with the fcripture, and the nature of that divine 
fellowfhip on which we are difcourfing, he will not de- 
fpife it. 

And here I truly acknowledge that this teftimony may 
be given in writing, or even by figns only * ; the fenfe of 
bearing, and the faculty of fpeech, are not efiential to the 
obtaining of faith ; and no believer who can by any poffi- 
ble method convey an idea of his converfion, and a defire of 
walking in gofpel-order, whofe behaviour bears witnefs 
to the iincerity of his profeffion, which is ever to be re^- 
garded j I fay, no fuch perfon is to be refufed the ordi- 
nances of Chrift, on any coniideration whatever ; never- 
thelefs, a folemn, exprefs and verbal declaration of faith 
in Chrift, and the power of his grace in elFeftual calling, 
appears to be natural and fcriptural, and likewife agreea- 
ble to the practice of the faithful in all ages when the fpi- 
rit of religion prevailed. See Ifa. xliv. 5. A profedion 
of faith is univerfally approved f. One (hall fay, I am 
the Lord's. Thegreekterm ufed for this chriftian profef- 
fion, throughout the New-Teftament, carries in it an open 



* An inftance ofwhich not long fmce turned out, in the cafe of a young 
man born deaf and dumb, but whofe heart the Lord opened, in confequence 
ofwhich he was enabled by figns to give full fatisfaAion to the church 
meeting in the Pithey, Briftol, and continues an honorable member of the 
fame. 

f The pxdobaptift DIflenters, yea and even the Church of England itfelf, 
are not without fome teftimony to this ; the latter require a perfon to re- 
hearfe the commandments, creed and Lord's-prayer, and likewife to anfwer 
t;he queftions in the catechifm, antecedent to his being confirmed, without 
which he cannot be regularly admitted to the table of the Lord, which is 
cffential to a full communion of faints ; and, what lefs is this than a ver- 
bal confeffion of faith ? 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. 253 

and frank acknowledgment of any perfon or thing as our 
own ; and what is the chriftian profeffion but an acknow- . 
ledgment of Chrift as the Son of God, and our dependence 
upon, and devotion to him as our Saviourand Lord ? This 
no doubt is to be done by particular a8:s of obedience to 
his declared will,andby an habitual courfe of external con- 
duft, whereby, having put on his name, we bear a conftant 
witnefs to his authority and grace ; but he that looks to 
Chrift for falvation, and is brought to this obedience of 
faith, has a reafon for his hope, and fliould be ready to 
give it ; which is neither more or lefs, in other words, than 
his experience of the power of God difplayed in enlight- 
ening his mind, convincing him offm, engaging his heart 
to truftin the Meffiah; and why fliould the man that has 
obtained this mercy make a difficulty of declaring it to the 
faithful, or even to an infidel, if required? But it fhould 
he confidered, that a confeffion or verbal declaration is an 
eflential and leading idea in that profeffion which the gof- 
pel requires ; and accordingly Chrift Jefus is laid, in 
I Tim. vi. 13. 'vto have witnelTed a good confeffion be- 
** fore Pontius Pilate.'" And this we know was an open 
and free declaration of his character, John xviii. 38. where 
the fame word is ufed : " Beloved, Chriil is highly ex- 
*' alted, and hath a name above every name, that every 
*' knee fliould bow, and that every tongue fliould confefs 
" unto him." A man may talk of his faith in Clirift in a 
loof» and general way, which comes not up to a folemn 
reverend confeffion of his name ; or, after having made a 
confeffion, he may be tempted to negle6l his ordinances, 
and fo fall (hort of the engagements he is undeil' ; but bow- 
ing the knee is a diftind njode of worftiip from that of 
confeffing with the tongue. They are neither to be con- 
founded nor feparated in gofpel-obedience, which demands 
the facrifice of the lips in a confeffion of Jefus ; and 
though Ibrae will fubftitute the hand initead of the tongue, 
in this branch of duty to the Saviour, they may as foon 
prove that thefe diffisrent members of the natural body 
are one and the fame, as that there is no eflential differ- 
ence in the manner of writing or fpeaking, or that the- 



ZS4 LECTURES ON 

Holy Ghoft intended the former when he exprefles the 
latter. 

Gur Lord Infifts on our confeffing him before men. on 
ef^rth, Matt. x. 32. where it is urged from a confidera-^ 
Udn that one might expeiSl (hould awaken every chrifti- 
an to ihun the appearance of evading the point. The 
Pharifees are condemned for not confefliag Chrift, John- 
xii. 42. And' it appears from the inftance of the eunuch, 
and others, that the firft ftep in a chrillian profeflion, is to 
declare our knowledge of Jefus^ and faith in him as the 
Son of God. And to the'fame purpofe we read, Rom. x. 
9,10.** that with the heart man believeth unto righte- 
*' ou-fnefs, and with the mouth eonfeffion is made to fal- 
** vation." A mnn*s own lips is the proper and natu- 
ral inllrumcnt of eonfeffion ; and indeed to introduce any 
pras^ke under a notion of confeffing where the mouth is 
not ufed, appears to me noiefs prepofterous than unfcrip- 
tural. In a word, a fair and clofe reafoning out of the 
fcriptut'e, we fnall find that a verbal acknowledgment, isi 
included in that profeffion of the name of Jefus, under- 
which the primitive difciples were found; and therefore 
I cannot but think it incumbent on every believer in.^ 
Chrift, and am forry that it fhould be even difpenfed 
with, much more difcouraged, where it may be obtained. 
There is notching in a ferious and humble declaration of 
a perfon's experience in the church of God but what is 
decent and honorable, or to ofFeiud the mod tender andr 
modeft conftitution. Nor doth it appear that the layings 
it afide has increafed the number of thofe who join im 
communion ; on the contrary, church -fellowfhip among 
nominal chriRians never was more neglefted that in the 
prefent day, fo that it is much to be wiilied that we re- 
turned to the good old way pointed out by reafon andfcrip- 
ture, and that the faithful were encouraged to fay with 
David, **-Come and hear, all ye that fear God; and I will 
" declare what he hath done for my foul," Pfalm ixvi. 16. 

Finally; fince it is plain that the communion of faints 
is of divine inftitution, and that from the beginning the 



PRIMITIVE CH^I'StlANITY. 255 

called were joined by the Lord to the church, have 
we not reafoB to conclude that this is the general method 
of God with his people ? The prous Mr. Henry, in his re- 
mark on this verfe, has the following note : " Thofe, faith 
♦'^^he, that God hath defignedfor eternal falvation, fliall 
'* one time or another be efFe(ftually brought to Chrift ; 
" and thofe that are brought toChrift are added to the 
" church in a holy covenant by baptifm, and in a holy 
" communion by other ordinances," This indeed is to 
•be taken in a qualified fenfe, but may it not juftly be in- 
ferred from this account and from the general report of 
<the gofpel, "He that believeth and is baptized, fliall 'be 
-" faved j" that this is the high- way to heaven, and that, 
at leaft under the gofpel-difpenfation, however there may 
be exceptions, for the grace of God is not to be limited 
otherwife than according to the revealed counfel of hea- 
ven, for the moft part, fuch who ihall be faved will here- 
after appear to have been added to the church I A con- 
fideration that fliould awaken all who live in the negleift 
of this fellowlhip, to examine into the ground <if that hope, 
■which is not effeftual to bring thera under this pleafaiit 
yoke of their Redeemer. 

:0n review of this authentic and interefting hiflory of the 
primitive church, who can but fee, and be charmed wiih 
her beauty! How lovely is her countenance in her in- 
fant ftate, when a conllant and faithful fpirit univerf:il!y 
prevailed! With what unity, zeal, brotherly love, hof- 
pitaFity, honor and fuccefs, did {he appear in her aflfcjm- 
blies, daily increafing and flouriOiing out, ftill more and 
more, from the bofom of her Lord, who was continually 
falutingher with the tokens of his power and love, a.:d 
caufmg her members to " fuck and be fatisfied, and to 
*' milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her 
*' glory !'' O that it was with us as in thefe days and 
months, when Zion was a crown of glory in the hand of her 
Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of her God ! — 
Thanks be to God, he will never forfake his people.— 
There are daily additions to his church, and we have rea- 
fon to hope that they are of fuch as fliall be faved j yet, 



256 L E C T U R E S O N 

is there no caufe to bewail the prefent ftate of the vifible 
'kingdom of Chrift, and the melancholy difference when 
compared \yith what we have feen? How unliable, cor- 
rupt, divided, and lukewarm! how covetous, loofe and 
unprofitable ; yea, and in many inftances, how uncharita- 
ble are profeflbrs in their behaviour one toward another, 
infomuch that in feme places there is need for applying 
the caution. Gal. v. 13.*' But if ye bite and devour one 
*' another, take heed that ye be not confumed one of an- 
" other." For thefe things let us humble ourfelves, and 
feek for the return of the Spirit, who is grieved by this 
fad difpofition and conduA ; but he waits to be gracious, 
and will heal ourbackflidings if we return unto him. — 
Remember, Beloved, the connexion there is between a 
lively, faithful, fpiritual and fruitful behaviour, and the 
divine prefenee and blefling. The wind bloweth where 
it lifteth ; fo is the work of the Spirit, among a profeffing 
people, his operations are according to the good pleafure 
of his will, but he works by the appointed means of grace. 
Order, harmony and zeal in a church are needful to war- 
rant an expe£lation of its increafe ; fo that when this is 
abfent the afpe£t is threatening. Nor let it be forgot 
that the defign of our fellowfhip in Chrift is nothing ftiort 
of eternal falvation. This is the end of our faith. With 
this view the Lord adds his chofento the church, namely, 
that they Ihould be faved ; and this (houldbe the aim and 
endeavour of his minifters and people in communion. — 
May this therefore be our earneit purfuit under a profeflf- 
ion of his name, that we may together appear with our 
Redeemer in glory at his coming I 

And now, my dear Reader, I ^nifh this le£lure and fub- 
je£l with an earneft intreaty that thou wouldft carefully 
liirvey and ponder the whole fcene of tranfa£lions repre- 
fented in the foregoing pages. What fober unprejudiced 
perfon can refle£l on thefe things-without admiration and 
praife 1 How confpicuous the fovereign love, wifdom, 
grace, power and faithfulnefs of God, in fending his Son 
to die and fave fmners, as he fpake by the mouth of his 
prophets from the foundation of the world j and in fcaling 



PRIxMlTI'VE CHRISTIANirY. 25^ 

liis miflion and'chara^ber by fo great a variety and num- 
ber o£ imiraGles,!iuiibelievers tHemfelves being judges I 
And, ho\V hardenefl their hearts, who rejed the R;edeeiTL- 
er, or negled hi& ,falvation I Behold and be aftoniftied^: 
His rerurre<rtion from the dead ; and coiifider the ample 
fatisfa<9:ion, by undeniable witneffes of a fad equally int^i^ 
efting and glorious, whofe teftimony is cdnfirmedi by tht; 
Spirrit of truth I How amazing the methods of graciev^hat 
Tdigns through dghteoufnefs to the pardon and life of 
the'moftflagraJit tj'ani^reiTors, who repent ; not excluding 
the murderers of Jefus himfplf ; but that*^ in his na'tne re- 
** million of fms fcnild be preached to all nations, beginning^ 
*'. at Jerufalem.'^. Yea, and that fo great a multitude of 
thefe blood-guilty wretches ftiould be converted in a day, 
and obtain a pardon from him, whom, but a few Weeks 
before, they had unjuftly condemned, and, by the hands 
of the wicked, crucified and (lain ! And finally, th^t the 
-faithful &olildb<i^c allied into afellowfhip fo adapted to the 
honor of their Sh^iour, their mutual advantage, and "€he 
continuance of thfegofpel to the end of the world, is great- 
ly to be admired! Who that attends to this wonderful 
difpenfation ■ of iTiercy from an holy God to iinfulmen, 
can forbear to cry out with the apoftle, '^ O the depth of 
■^' the T^icher, botil of the wifdom and knowledge of God': 
^'•''- How unfear^hable are his judgments, and' his way^ paft 
i^--' .finding out^r* ' v^'-v •' 

^- ^^^■■''\ti:>tl .'■- .■';.. .■_:.: 

If theffe *thin^3^&re certainly true, as doubtlefs they are^ 
then the golpel is true, and wo be to them who defpife 
it. It is highly unreafonable to queftion thefe fads, fince 
it is not credible that the apoftles Would have openly ap- 
pealed to the inhabitants of JeriifaJem concerning thefe 
things if they had been falfe, or that luch pirefumption 
and folly ihould not have immediately met with its re- 
ward, to their ruin ; and ftill more incredible, yea it was 
even impoilible, on a fuppofition of any impollure or de- 
ceit, that a few plain perfons, whofe fimplicity and moral 
behaviour Vv^as never difputed; without learning, riches, 
power, or any other weapons, than reafoning out of the 

J i 



25^ L E C T U R E S O N, &c. t 

fcriptures, compared with the eternal evidence given from 
heavetl to the doctrine they ^preached, fhould perfuade fo 
great a multitude, who lived on the fpot where Jefus was 
crucified, to become followers of him, through a fcene oi 
fufferings and felf-denial. In a word^. had there been, the 
.leaft hefitation concerning the fa£ls rieferred to by Peter 
in his difcourfe, and on which the apoftles proceeded ia 
their miniftry, chriftianity muft have been cruflied on its 
firft appearance, and its votaries fcattered with Ihame and 
juft indignation: But fince the contrary is evident, how 
daring and perverfe is the oppofition ol deifts who openly 
contradi£l and blafpheme the name of Jefus, and the reve- 
lation of his grace I And indeed fince Jefus is the Mef- 
fiah, and there can be falvation in no other, how unhappy 
and dangerous the ftate of all unbelievers I If thefe pa- 
mpers fall into the hands of fuch whonegle^or defpife the 
true grace of God, and prove a means of convincing any 
ope of themj the name of the Lord will be praifed, and 
I (hall have joy in the day of revelation. However, this 
attempt is humbly committed to his bleffing, in hope of 
its finding fome acceptance in the heart of the true chrift- 
ian Reader ; and with refpe£l to thofe who are yet difobe- 
dient, I know* of nothing more fuitable than the exhortati- 
;dn of the prophet, Pfalm ii.'ii, with which I conclude : — 
" Kifs the fon left he be angry, and ye periih from the 
" way, when his wrath is kiniiled but a little : Bleffed 
** are all they that put their truft in him.'' 



THE END OF PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITV. 



i 



KBR 



A 

D I S S E R T A T I O N 

ON THE 

Epiftle to the Church at Sardis, 

FOR 

The Warning of thofe who are fallen int^ 
the like threatning State of Religion. 



BOOK V, 



The early declenfion of the Church from her 
original fiinplicity . 



> .'Irrffiw 

L E C T U RE' XXI, 



> ->t;o :ftt;»:i 



Introdu^ion, The Lord'* s testimony against the disci- 
ples at Sardis, In ivbat respeBs a church may be 
dead, notwithstanding she hath a name that she liv- 
eth* The occasions and symptoms of this dreadful 



state. Motives to watch against it. 



TH A T the church foon declined from her prim* 
itive purity, order and zeal, is notorious, and a 
fubjed more needful tlmn pleafing. On the (pread o£ 



a6o LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

chriftianity tares grew up with the wheat, infomuch that the. 
worft of errors and moft niameful apoftacles appeared, eve a 
in the days of the "lapoftles ; this their writings in gene- 
ral fhew, but no where more plainly than in the epifhles to, 
thefeven cimrches in Afia, contained in the revelation of 
Jefus Chrift by his angel to his fervant John the evangelift. 
Some writers of note huve ihunned an explanation of this 
myfterious book, as though an attempt of this kind was 
prefumptuous and vain ; on the contrary, fome others, no 
lefs eminent for piety and learning, feem to have ventured 
too far and mifcarried; Time hath 111 ewn them greatly 
ihiftak'eh in \vhat, like prophets, they have been bold to 
aflert, concerning the accomplidiment of its feveral pre- 
4di6lions. This temerity (Hotild warn us againft intruding 
jnto things not mentioned in fcripture, but, it is no rcafon 
for lay i tig a fide the ftudy of a divine prophecy, unto which 
we are €n€iQ(ira|ed Tivith^m a ble^iUgi», ^ghap. 

i. 3. '■ ■" "■ * ' ■ 

There are thofe v/ho contend that thefc epiftles are 
prophetical of the vifible church in different periods, fuc- 
ceeding each other to the end of time, and fome go about 
to affign them precifely, to which others make confider- 
able" obje<^ions j but it anfwers my prefent defign that it 
is generally allowed that a chriftian church did really ex- 
ift in each city mentioned, and that thefe churches were 
aflually in the circumftances feverally defcribed at the time 
the apoftle John wrote, for he is exprefsly directed to 
write the things which are, as well as thofe which shall 
he hereafter^ cha[). i. 19. ' So that^ if a myllical fenfe 
may be admitted, a literal one cannot be reiuled. I'he. 
fa£ls then related of thefe churches ^re doubtlefs hiftoric- 
ally true, and the exhortations, promifes and threatnings, 
andlikewife the reproofs and commendations, are of uni- 
verfal inftru^lion. Indeed there are fome articles in every 
epiftle peculiar to the community unto whom it is fent, hut 
we learn from the clofe of each, that what is laid to one is 
fpoken to all, and therefore the contents are to be appli* 
ed to the churches of Chrift under fnnilar circumilances, 
in every age, to end of the world. 



TO THH^CHtlRCH: ATfSARDIS. 261 

The prefent ftaf^ of religion, which is juftly lamented, 
interns much to refemble that which appeared in tlie 
church at Sardis, which is the lbbje£l I have chofen, and 
accordingly fome who take it prophetically apply it to 
the. period w'e are in; if their notion is juil, the epiille 
tfj) her very nearly concerns us,, and demands our molt - 
feripus attention ; however^ on comparifon, the likenefs 
js'but too vifible, fo that. a dififertation upon it cannot be 
unfeafonable. 

The plan of thefe epiftle^ isUmform. After an order 
to write, they are each dire£led to the angel or niiniticr 
of the church from Jefus Chrift, whom the apoltle at 
large in a vifion, as defcribed chap, i. and from which 
defcription this divine fpeaker aifumes fome diftinguilli- 
ing character adapted to the peculiar ftate of the commu- 
nity, which beihg laid open, with proper rebukes and 
exhortations for the awakening of backiliders and com- 
forting the faithful, is follov/e'd with a gracious promife 
uf4t) Him that" per feveres, and a folemn excitation to 
heMi?1ven to the voice of the Spirit. 

jlGonformable to this plan our epiilleito SardfiB runs 
tfeas : 

; d, " Unto, the angel of the church in Sardis write: 
"; thefe things faith he that hath tb.e feven fpiriis of God, 
'' and the feven ftars : I know thy ,works,,ibat thou hail 
" a name that thou liveil, and artdead. 

v».'..|cr^«A-rii'; 

2. " Be watchful, and ftrengthen the things which re- 
'V main, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy 
'•t'fivorks perfc6l before God. 

3. " Remember therefore how thou haft received and 
" heard, and hold faft, and repent. If therefore thou 
" flialt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and 
" thou fliult not know what hour I will come upon thee. 



at$z: LECTURES ON. THE EPISTLE 

4, " Thou haft a few names even in Sardls, which have 
** not defiled their garments ; and they (hall walk with 
*' me in white : for they are worthy. 

- 5. ^' He that overcometh, the fame fliall be clothed in 
" white raiment ; and I will not blot out his name out oi 
"; the book of life, but I will confefs his name before my 
^'' Father, and before his angels. 

6. *• PTe that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spi- 
*' rit faith unto the churches," 

I fliall endeavour to open and apply this divine mef- 
fage from Jefus to his people, in a le6lure on each verfe, 
• in the order it ftands ; the firft of which contains t;he fol- 
lowing particulars, namely, the dire£lion df the epiftle, 
the character which our Lord affumes, arid his atjbountor 
their (liameful and dangerous flatc. i^ .^i'J<^; 

-■■.■'■• ; to-- 'y--.' ■■ 

Tl>e ftiperfcriptien runs : " unto the an get of the thurch 
*' in Sardis,;^ Sardis was the metropolis of Lydiain Alia 
Minor,, formerly an important city of great magnificence, 
where tlie ceilebrated Crsefus once kept his court, but it 
is long fince reduced, there bqing.how only et village of 
this name a fmall diftance from the riiini of. the former, 
which fome think was the feat of this chi'iftian' church ; 
but all thefe churches were fituate in capital Cities, and 
there is no.reafon to queftion but that Sardi^s' was famous 
in the apollles time. A popular and opulent city, the 
riches and luxury of .which might be one occafion of the 
fad declenfions complained pf, for experience llieWs that 
the bufipefs and pleafures which abound in fuch places 
sre often deftru<tlive of vital religion ; however, unto the 
angel o-rminifter of the church, as it is explained chap. i. 
%o. this epiiUe is .direded.;' not that it concerned him on- 
ly or principally, be might be to blame ; fometimes ami- 
nifte.r is tempted by the perverfenefs and ill-treatment he 
meets witii on account of his faithful reproofs, to let men 
alone in their folly, or he might be fallen into the fame 
tarna] frame which nrevailed in the church ; or if chofen 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 263 

into office fince flie .declined, no wonder that his fpirk 
and conduct was conformed' unto theirs, for in a ilate of 
lukewarmnefs people naturally feek out for one like them- 
felves, whofe miniftration and condu6l fliall give them no 
difturbance in their diforderly walk, and there are but 
too many in every age who are ready for their purpofe ; 
hence the old proverb, " like people, like prieft.'' Be 
this as it may, the paftor or elder is not charged with 
negledl of his duty. The letter is directed to him as her 
principal officer for the church, and manifeftly concerns 
every member who is commended or reproved, and ex- 
horted with a promife of threatning, according to his in- 
tegrity or defe£l, in whatever ftation or chara(^er hp 
flood. 

To engage their attention the divine J^fus prefcribes 
himfelf in terms under which he appears in a grand and 
moft important light : " thefe things faith he that hath 
" the feven fpirits and the feven flars." They are not 
the diftate of any creature, however dignified in na- 
ture or office, but of the great Son of man, who is the 
Alpha and Omega, the true God and eternal life, the ex- 
alted Head of the church, who, being alive from the dead, 
hath all power in heaven and earth. "• He that hath the 
" feven fpirits of God;" under whom not only the an- 
gels of heaven minifter to the heirs of falvation, but the 
Spirit himfelf proceedeth, the fulnefs and variety of 
whofe gifts and graces are difpenfed in Chrift Jefus ; 
yea, and the feven ftars, thofe angels in office, or mini- 
fters of the word, who are appointed to edify the church, 
thefe are all in his hand, to be continued or removed at 
his pleafure. This chara£lef of the Saviour hath a two- 
fold afpe 61 ; it carries in it a threatning if they remained 
difobedient, and a promife of his blefiing in cafe of re- 
pentance, unto which they are called ; q. d, " *'0 ye, the 
** minifter and people in my charch at Sardis, unto whom 
*' I now fend, confider who it is that faith thefe things 
*' unto you ; it is he that hath the difpofmg of all fpirituul 
** gifts and graces, means and inftruments, whereby you. 
" can flourifli or even exift : if vou hearken not to me, 



16.^ LECTURES^ ON^'tHE -EPISTLE - 

" or defpife my CGurifeV'refiiembef lam he, at whofe irt- 
** ftfince the Spirit of life and- gt-ac'e withdi'awS, and thg 
" ftars difappcai% in confequence of which churches de- 
" cay, and at length entirely diffolve ; on the other hand, 
*' if you take warning and repent, under a fenfe of your 
*^ backflidings, behold I am ready to furniOi you with 
*' every needful lupply for the continuance of my gofpel 
♦' with fuccefs amoiig you, that you may revive, and 
*' that your beauty be reftored to the glory of my name," 
And now who cannot fee the propriety of this introduc- 
tion to the reproofs and exhortations which follow ? 
Could any thing be more adapted to awaken them out of 
that ftate of ibpinenefs and ne^lig^ncQ into whic^i tUey 
were funk, and to encourage their return to the Lord ? ■''■ 

- Many are thfe WbWe to'%e perfot-med' in tixhVfGh -ftate, 
to a due difcharge of which it is needful that each member 
•fills up his ftation, according to the meafure of grace he 
hath obtained. The. work or bufmefs of a church is to 
maintain the do6lrines and orders of the gofpel in their fim- 
plicity and glory, to hold forth the word of life,for ihb 
eonverflon^of llnners and the edification of laint's, to cj> 
pofe Satai,! ^nd'hisr kitigdom, and to promote the knowledge 
of Chrift^ arid oheriih the members of his body, to the ut- 
moft of thfeir power ; this requires that diligence and ail 
expence of mind and body, which a flothfut'or felfifli pro- 
feflbr will not exert. By this labour and felf-denia'l fre- 
quent affemblies are to be held for preaching the word, ad- 
minifteringthe ordinances, ftriving together'in prayers, an 
My watch over one another in the Lord-, arid'M. w(>rks 
of charity, fuch ^s brotherly admonition, vifiting the fick, 
and relieving the poor, With every office of kindnefs as oc* 
cafion requires, in which -the faints are to abound in love 
to God and each other. All thefe works are required in 
achurch ; to be z^alotis in which becbmes the difciplesof 
Jefus, though they feeni little regarded by fome who pals 
urxder^ that name, but every community is eftabliflied in 
proportion to her diligerice'andfaithfulnefs in thefe things 
which are in a degree efTe'ntial to the form of a communi- 
ty, and accordingly That at'Sardis had her works, the 



TQ THE CHURCg 4T SARDIS. 2,6s 

knq\yladge of \^j:iich is ^he fir-ft thing afjerted, "I kno^y. 
" thy.j wor^s." It is a perfed knowledge which Chfil^ 
here afluiT^es^ fuph as ^en o^sttain of s^n obj^^ "^j^V?^ tb^ 
compais of their undefft^nding afper ^hp mpft careful irj- 
fpe.6tion, and accordingly l^e declares, " I haye no.t fp^r|d 
" thy works perfeft,'' &c. Thus lie vvlipfe eyes aV^ fi's, ^ 
flaming f\\-Q^ difcert]ing tjie thoughts of tlie heart, 4^cla:j^e.s 
fiiii^ exa£l and univerfal' acquaintance with th^ vyorks pfhis 
church, which Ihev/s that his eye is upon the way'p pf 
pcofeffors who come flioft of their duty, tip w little Tqevei" 
J;hey, think of it, at|4 that his judgment is acpprdip^ to 
truth. ^Vhat Chriil fays againil apeople, he lay^hpt pi^ 
ihe repprt of others, but on his own knqwledge, and the 
ta^ls are npt to bq di.rni;t§4 ; be \s himfelf a "VYiifOefs ag^ifilj: 
thofe he; cpuv^emns,. therefor^ ysfob^ jto tJipijji.YllP iW^/npf 
repent. 

Now \yhat repprt doth the pmnifcitjnt Jefus give of th^ 
(iate of this church .? 'Ho doubt a juft, but alas it is a mo,- 
Jancholy account ! This is the teliimony be tears againl): 
I^^X *. pe declares it to hjsr face, .*' that thDU haft a name 
^'.^;tb^t thou liyeil, and art dpad,*' ',' This is thine appca.r- 
" at^ce and charaiOier ; tho^ji \Youldefi: feem a church pf thp 
" living God in whom he is wprfhipped in firnplicity apd 
*' truth,, and hall a name that thou thus liveR ; but this 
" chart^Aer which thou bearell is falfc, I (enow thy ;\^pfks ; 
*' and this is thy true but Jliam.eful c.pndi tion, thou art p 
" rj^ality dead.'^ 7'b'Js the church at I^ardis'ftands charg- 
ed by f^e hply l^i\}f bimfetf. 

B^t w^s fh^ abfplutely and totally vyithout any l^ffi ? 
Certainly no; flip was yet alivp, her church-ilate exittejl, 
nor had flie, as hinted already, wholly cealed from her 
wp.rks ; fome things remain, though they.a,rp reaily t,o .dj,f ; 
th(?fe (he is exbpfted to ftrengthen. Indexed the generali- 
ty of he-r m,em^ers feem very de.feAive,^d it is prpbable 
m^Dy of them vyere hypocrites, neyertb^kfs therp >^9,re 
a fpvv pam^s in Sardi^ pf a different cbap<^^r, as wjH 
hiir.e;^ft||: appear ; ^nd white any yybo Uv^unto ^j^d, andhpldr 
" ' ' ' '" K'k 



266 LECTURtS ON THE EPIStLEl 

their integrity, remain in a church though their number are 
few, and they are incapable of withftancling the tide of cor- 
ruption, it cannot be faid thatrtie is totally dead. This charge 
muft therefore betaken in a qualifievd fenfe ; our Lord plain- 
ly intends that (he was comparatively dead, i. e. lifelefs, un- 
jprofit able, and very imperfect ; dead in comparifon of what 
is required ; her vigour and fruitfulnefs fell fliort of what (he 
profefTed and the character (lie bore, and, in a word, that {he 
was ifadly declined from her primitive zeal and faithfulnefs, 
and that, under.thele circumftances, (lie Was in a dying con- 
dition, and if (lie did not repent, would certainly come to ^ 
fpeedy dilTolution. This, I fay was the Oiameful and dange- 
rous ftate of the community referred to, and to the like fad 
Condition the mod famous churches are liable, and are for 
the moft part reduced before they dilTolve. What appear- 
ances we have of a fimilar declenfion in the prefent day, 
I fliall not here flay to. enquire, but that we may be warn- 
ed and improved by this afFefting example^ I propoie 
"briefly to confider in what rtfpeft a church may have a 
name to live and yet be dead, iliew v/hence it is that a 
chriftian community, although dead in the fenfe of our 
text, may nevertheleis have a name that (lie liveth, point 
out the iymptoms of this ftate of things, and then oiFer feme 
motives to be Watchful againft it. 

And firft, a church may have the chara£ler of being 
found in the faith and zealous for the do£lrines of grafe^ 
and yet be fd far degenerated as that on examination it 
will be found, that thofe in her communion have no juft re- 
g.ard for them, or it may be are fond of. vain notions which 
dircclly cppoie therh. Thus in feveral of the Afian 
churches, who are Itiled golden candlefticks, as in Perga- 

■ mos and Thyatira, the hateful doArints of Balaam, the 
Nicolations, and the iubtletles of Jezebel, were connived 
at ; doclrines vi^hich tended to idolatry and uncleannefs ; 

' and if, as fome think, thele are typical of Rome, her abo- 
rninations arenotorious ; (lie affumes the name of the apbi- 
tolic church, but is far from being (ledfaft in the doclrine 
of Chrift, for (lie is not built on the foundation of the apol- 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 267 

ties and prophets, of which Chrift Jefus is the corner -ftone ; 
her foundation is not in the fcripture, but in human tradi- 
tions, fo that her tenets are befide the authority of God, 
whofe precept in many inilances Ihe difannulleth, teach* 
irig for do£lrines the commandments of men, and particu* 
larly in the article of jiiftification; human merit, and the 
works of the fiiiner, are made a caufe of his acceptance 
with God, and a title to life, againll ail reafon and fcrip- 
ture, for, fmc'e "we are altogether as an unclean thing," 
nioft certain it is that '*• all our righteoufnefles are as filthy 
'•^ rags,'Vlfa. Ixiv,' 6. And tlie gofpel-dodrine in this point 
makes the obedience of Chrift and his perfe£l righteouinefs, 
iihputed and received by faith, the fole ground of glory in 
ttiij fight of (?od, declaring that believers are *' juftified 
*"*■ freely by his grace, through the rpd^mption wh\ch is in 
" Clirift Jefus,'' Tit. iii. 7. But if, as hinted, the Sardinian 
church-ltate under her declenfions was a figure of the re- 
formed churches, who cannot fee too great a likenefs?. 
The very name of a Proteftant is oppofed. to the doftrines. 
of Rome, and thofe of the reformation were levelled di- 
re6lly.againrt that root of all popifli inventions **• the merit 
*^ of works,*' but alas how are many Proteftahts, both at 
home and abroad, fwerved from the true grace of God I 
Thofe precious truths, by which, through the power and 
bleffing of the Almighty, antichrift was expelled, and thisi 
and other nations were rel'cued from popifti fupertlition 
and tyranny, are now fet at nought, and in a manner uni- 
verfally denied ! May not a church be faid to haye a name 
that ftie liveth and at the fame time is dead in refpe^l of 
h_r do£lrine, when her public confeilion and fworn articles 
are full and ftrong, for inRance^ for the Holy Trinity, the 
Deity' and fatisfadion of Chrift, the deplorable ftate of 
man who is born under the guilt, and dominion of fin,his 
total impotence in himfelf, and the neceihty of the regene- 
ration' o7 llie Spirit, together with juftification alone by the 
meriv.a of the Redeemer, and at thi fame time the genera- 
lity of her minifters and members contradiil thele great 
and iniportant t rut lis of j-evelation, and to their utmoft pro- 
m'Sx^Q fi fet of notions in d'.ro<fl oppolition unto tli'em ? And 
need vye go far for an inftance io amazingly. perverfe and 



268 LEGTURE3 M ¥tik EPiSTLfi 

aff^£lmg? Nor rsffiSxftfAfihei to'any piriicuTir clenbmi ., 
nation bf Pi'oteft^ntS. It iS fad X6 relate, but ev^n arnon^^ 
Proteftaiit Diflenters Wtiofe feparation from the public hatli 
a fbrni of zeal for the ptirity of thegofpel, it is notorious 
th^t tfere'tii% foriViTe feven ^tiVofigthefri.moftffiam 
riipttd with the TekVefeof thofe who fubvert the truth, as it . 
is in Jefus,fefdjfiuch that in all kppearance tliiey hiave fcarce 
any thing of the gofpel of Chriil to be found with them. 

Again ; this may be the cafe with a church in refp'e^, 
of her difciplihe. ft belongs to a church to watch over 
the life of her mertibers, arid to warn them of errors in 
doMne arid prk^llcie, to adthonith them that go aftray, 
to cenfure thfe diford'erly, and if required, as in cafe of, 
pfervcrfenefs, to put the offender away ; /and this is fo 
feafonable in itfelf, arid fo j)rainly revealed, that no one 
denies it. Indeed it is heedful to the purity "and prefer- 
vation of every corporate body to esercife difcipline, the 
objeAs, manner, and end of which, in a chriflian con^-^ 
m unity, are defcribed in the word, with many exhorta-. 
lions to be faithful in this trull, yet ala^, it is but to'a 
much negle^led, even among thofe who feparate froni 
others under a pretence of a confcientious regard to the. 
authority of the Lord in the order of his houfe. At Thyt 
ktira they are condefnned for fuffering that weman Je.ze- 
bel, and in Corinth the difciples are blamed for not put- 
ting away the inceftuous perlon ; and if he that fearch* 
eth the hearts and trieth the reins, was to examine his 
churches in the prefent day on this head, there is rea- 
I'on to fear he Would have many charges againft them for 
fuf^Tering thofe who ought to be dealt with. If Proteft- 
ants, who have a name for order and purity, were truly 
'fl^live arid faithful, v/e (liould not find erroneous, proud 
and loofe perfo'ns Walking about with their names in the 
churches of Chriil, as they do in Ibme inftances, to the 
grief and fcandal of many. But, when a people profefs a 
'holy difcipline in the houfe of God, and at the fame time 
connive at fm, are they not dead notwithftanding they 
have a name that they live ? And this was the cafe 
v;iti6t\g the churches in Afia at the time when thefe epif- 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 260 

ties were. wrote, aiwl it will >ever bie thufe in .proportion to 
otir iieca^^ from the life &m\ power of godiiflefs. 

And fertlyer ; this mfiy be thfe e^lle in reference to the 
affe<£lion Which is required in the communion of faints. 
A pedpte rn^y liave a.name for! love t6 each other, when 
at the fame time, on due examination, but little tnay be 
found of that goodnefs!, fympathy and delight among them, 
which is the genuine fruk of true c»hri(lian charity. Love 
is the leading grace to the works of faith, a defe£l in 
which is itianifeft where cbnt^ntions and divifions abound, 
>jirhich is fometimts the cafe; but where things are not 
come to this pafsv the members of a church may be far 
frpm continuifig in that defirable harmony and intimate 
affe^lion which belong to their chara^er: At a dillance 
ii.may he thought that theyare in a itute of cordial friend* 
flifp iand union o-f foul, when alas to them that are wnthin, 
there appears an unhappy fpirit among them, or at leaft, 
that inilead of cleaving together as chofen companions, 
a-nd being kirtdly alfe^iianate in their behaviour, they fcarce 
know orte iinioth-er, and through an unnatural diftance and 
ftiynefs, are inca:pable of that mutual aiiiilance and com- 
f'ort which becomes their profeffion. This firrange con- 
du6l among chriftians in feliowfliip, is fometimes ov.'ing 
to a'c6rr-u^Hi6n from thefirhplicity of the gofpel, the doc- 
trines and ordinances of which are adapted to unite the 
difciples ; but when errors take -place, iniquity abounds^ 
and the love -of i»aiiy waxeth cold. ; However, br(i)therly 
love-isttot; always ^ni'werable to the fa'me of a ehrilliaii 
fociety ; and when this is the cafe, in proportidn to her 
deficiency, iheis truly fliled dead under a name to live, to 
the grief of thofe who feek' her profperity. 

OAce riiore ; -flie fnlay have a name to live and yet be 
dead in refpe£l of her affemblies. Frequent and general 
affembUes are effential to the performance of the works 
which belong to a church, in a forfaking of which, their 
fall is inevitable. Now the gatherings of a fociety m;^y 
be defei^iveyand far fliort of what they feem Co ij^e^tators, 
or are reported to be. It may be thought ftrange, bat 



270 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

experience hath fhewn, that a church -ftate may decline, 
and in a manner dwindle to nothing, in the midft of a po- 
pular audience. Many may attend the ordinary means 
of grace in a chriftian corn rnunity, the members of which 
are very remils in thofe Ipecial meetings, on which de- 
pend that difcipline, and works which are needful to her 
welfare and increafe ; and when this becomes habitual 
among a people who are of repute in the churches, they 
iail under the deicription before us, are in very great 
danger,, and do well to take warning. ' 

Thefe falfs appearances and threatning declenfion in 
any community no doubt arifes from the bad difpofition 
a.nd con dud of thole who compofe it, for this lifelefs ftate 
k inconiiilent with the order and zeal of her members, 
io that even fuch who, by their future repentance may ap- 
pear to bedifciples indeed, muft at prefent be in a fieepy 
and carnal frame, while there is reafon to apprehend 
that iome, and thofe not a few, are mere formal profelT- 
ors of whom it may be truly faid that they are i'piritually 
dead, notwHbilanding their name among the living in 
jeruialem. However the reputation of a church fo dif- 
ierent from her real condition as at Sardis, may be owing 
to one or more of the following occafions : 

1. To the gradual manner in which (he declined from 
her original perfection and vigour. When a church is 
tirlt gattiercd, her members are for the moll part lively 
and adive, they are full of zeal and good v/orks ; hence 
they have a name among the brethren, and this their 
■charader may remain after thty have left their firil: love, 
from whence they go off by flow degrees, even almoft 
imperceptibly,, at leail to others. Or again, •''" 

2, It may arifefrom comparing their ftate with that of 
another community (lill more declined. By this falfe rule 
otcomparifon both particular perfons and bodies of men, 
lumetimes flatter themfelves to their ruin ; butitihould 
be confidered that in fome refped or degree we may be 
better than others, and at the lame time be in a very bad 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. ^^i 

ttate, y^and even nigh to de{lm£lion ; Co dang<:rous is 
that deceitful line by which we are but too much inclined 
to meafure ourfelves and others. And,' 

3. The charader of a church, even after (lie is great- 
ly declined, may awhile be fuppurted, at lead with fome, by 
the favor and good converfation of a few belonginf^ to 
her who yet maintain their integrity, tor perfons at a 
diftance judge of the whole by the part they are conver- 
fant with, which (hews, by the way, how much the repu- 
tation of a community depends on the good behaviour of 
her members, and (liquid be one motive to virtue in eve- 
ry one who (lands in the {licred relation. On the other 
hand, it is not impoflibb but that fome may be deceived hy 
the mifreprefentation of vainglorious perlons who aredii- 
orderly themielves, yet boaft of the community to wIkcU 
they belong. Thele are the ordinary occaiions or means by 
which the good name of a church for purity and zeal 
may in fome degree prevail, although in reality (lie is very 
much funk, and her things which remain are dying away' ; 
namely, the gradual manner of her decleniion ; the icili 
more deplorable Hate of fome other communities, with 
whom the is compared, the reputation (he receives by a few 
of her members whofe walk is agreeable ; and the like falfe 
idea may alio be promoted by tlie deceitful talk 01 fome 
men. 

But from whatever quarter the deception may arife. in 
this fad hypocritical ftate, a church is in the utmod danger- 
of being difiolved, for in proportion to her deadnels the is 
barren ; a principal means of fruitfulnefs is wanting. It 
is true, the nprightnefs and zeal of a church, or the vigor 
and fpirituality of its members, are not the efficient cawl*^ 
of increafe ; it is alone by the power of God that linners 
are converted, planted and flourifli in the houfe of the Lord, 
yet tlie promife of the Spirit is to be ex[)e£led in the way 
of our duty, both in a focial and private capacity ; and 
accordingly the Laodiceans are threatiied with the lofs of 
the candleftick, and even tobe cait out witli abliorrence, it" 
they did not repent of their lukewaiHiuefs. iieudfes, it 



37^ LECTURKS QK TM EPISTLE 

appears frpjn example, th^t the livelinefs and a^ivlty cjf 
faints in communion, is a means fubfervient to the v{qyk 
of the Spirit among them, for many are indebted to th«j 
earned prayers, the godly difcourfe, and to other inftaii- 
ces pf piety and zeal in the faithful,. as a rneans of tl)eir 
^onverfion, which is often eonfeflfed in the church by 
them that are called. The order E^nd ftedfaftnefs of a, 
people like wile engage the godly to join them, but it 
cannot be expe6led,and rt is rarely leen thatfuch ynite or 
continue with a church in a like ftate with that at Sar^is > 
and indeed where dijfprders and hypocrlfies prevail j:he 
Spirit is grieved and departs, whofe divine agency, as al- 
ready obferyed, is needful to any degree of fuccefs. In a 
>Vord, the analogy between natural aiid fpiritual things is 
obvious, and though I am far from apprehending that they 
are in all refpeds the fame, yet that the Lord in liis ordin- 
ary courfe, works with aT"id by jLJie graces of his p.cople, 
and renders their faithfulnefs anclzeala me^ins of copverfion 
^nd a flourifliing ftate of his cktirch, cannot be raodeftly 
denied, infomuch that Abraham had as good reafonto hope 
for a child by Sarah, when her body was dead, in th^ 
cpurfe of nature, as the mo^Q: able and adlive minifter in 
the world has to expe^l an increafe of fpiritual feecl, froni^ 
a people funk into the formaiity and coldnefs defcribed? 



Another melancholy fymptom of this fad and fhameful 
condition, is an unperfuadable obftinate fpirit. It is ex- 
ceeding difficult to convince a people in thefe Gircum-r 
ftances of their danger, for the moft part they are infeiifi- 
ble and fecure, yea, and often fo conceited of themfelyes, 
that, in a manner, it is vain to exhort them ; a remonftrance 
of their folly and prefumption they impute to ^n uncha,rit- 
able jealouiy, and are diipleafed, or it may be treat their 
faithful monitor with contempt j they reply in fach lan- 
guage as this: The former times were not better than 
thefe, others are ftill more deficient, and in Ihort we are 
as well as can be expe<^ed, and'. thus' they excufe them- 
felyes from amendment, till they Hecprae incapable of bear- 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 2173 

ing reproof, but are ijumediately ofFended with every at- 
tempt to reclaim them; fo that, like Ifrael in the days of 
Amos the prophet, being fet on their own ways, they 
hate the man that rebuketh in th^e gate, and ab|ior him 
that fpeaketh uprightly unto them. 

And now, who that fears God will not deprecate be- 
ing in any degree the occafion or fubje(5l of this odious 
and threatning llate of religion ? May it never be a ge- 
neral cafe in aur land! But, have wen.o alarrping fymp- 
toras which call for a fpeedy reformation, led we fall in 
like manner ? To awaken our indignation at every thing 
which tends to this ihameful condition, remember, that 
though the Lord is mercifully pleafed to call fuch a peo- 
ple to repentance, their hypocrifies are hateful in his fight. 
To reft in a formal communion and be carelefs and un- 
fruitful, is to affront our holy Redeemer, who is jealous 
of his honour. By allowed partiality and negled in his 
houfe, a people defpife his authority, abufe his love, dif- 
grace his name, and ni a word, as it were provoke him 
continually to his face ; and who can ftand before him 
when he is angry ? If he is offended that hath the feven 
fplrits and the feven ftars^ in w,hofe power is every gift 
and diviqe operation, on which the welfare and even the 
cxiftence ©f a church-ftate depends, what lefs can be ex- 
pc^Sbed but diffolution and ruin? Wo be to theii[i ^vhofe 
finful cociduft and long provocations, bring down his judg- 
ments; they muft anfwer the confequence; for when the 
kingdom of heaven is removed from a land, many tempo- 
ral miferies attend the unfpeakable lofs, of which there 
are awful inftances ; but we ftiall have occafion to fpeak 
of the punifliment that awaits thofe who lin away the 
gofpel, and leave their pofterity in darknefs, in the fol- 
lowing leftuie. I conclude the prefent with a prayer, ia 
which the ferious Reader will certainly join me : 

" Lord, fend down thy holy Spirit to purify and quick- 
^* en our hearts, that thy love may conllrain us to a be- 

LI 



a74 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

" coming zeal for thy glory, and that as we have a name 

*' that we live, we may fliew that we are alive indeed 

'^ unto God, and abound in every good work, to the pro- 

«' moting thy vifible kingdom in the world I" 



LECTURE XXII. 



The disciples ut Sardis exhorted to repent ; their ^orks 
. are impeached, Hohu the Lord appears a ^udge of 
^hdt a people perform in his name. The measures 
to be taken to restore a church 'luhen declined, Rea- 
S071S for attempting it^ notv3ith standing her things 
may be dying a'lxay. 



^nr^ HE omnifcient and holy Redeemer, having warn- 
JL ed his church of her hypocritical and dangerous 
ftate, goes on to exhort and rebuke her, the particulars 
of which, with proper refiedions, are now to be confi- 
dered. This part of his mefiage is contained in tlie fol- 
lowing words ; <' Be watchful^, and ftrengthen the thir.gs 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS, ^75 

'* which remain, and which are ready to die ; for I have 
'' not found thy works perfect before God." We are told. 
Matt. xiii. 24. that " the kingdom of heaven is like to 
*^ a man that fowed good feed in his field, in which while 
" men flept, the enemy fowed his tares." Decays in a 
church originally fpring from a defe£l in herfelf, and the 
adverfary gains his firlt advantage by the inattention of 
her members. If chriftians were on their guard, Satan 
could have no opportunity of introducing thole poifonous 
errors, and formal profcfTors, which are the bane of reli- 
gious fociety. Thus it appears that thefe difciples were 
very remifs. - Hence temptations prevailed, and they 
were daily declining ; they are therefore admoniflied to 
return to their watch. The firft ftep towards a recovery, 
is to renew that diicipline which, in the fad flate com- 
plained of, muft have been greatly neglefted ; a watch is 
to be fet over ourfelves, and againft the enemy, that no 
further place may be given him, without which we can- 
not with reafon expeft to reform; and accordingly we fee 
a guard is placed at the door of this church, and at the 
hearts of her members, by way of prevention, and, tliis 
done, all hands are required to repair the houfe of the 
Lord, in the following words : " Strengthen the things 
'' which remain and are ready to die.'* 

It has been thought by fome, that the things referred 
to are the graces of the Spirit, from the exercife of which, 
no tloubt, there muft have been a general decay among 
thefe difciples ; nor could they hope to revive as a church, 
unlefs they were reftored to a more vigorous habit of faith 
and love in Chrift Jel'us ; but they are wrong who would 
infinuate from hence that a principle of grace may be- 
come extin6l, or ceafe to exiit in the heart of a regenerate 
man, for it is exprefsly declared, that *' whofoever is 
" born of God, his feed remaineth in him," i John iii. 9. 
And again, that the grace, or water of life, given by Chrift 
to him that is called, " fliall be in him a well of water, 
" fpringing up into everlafting life,'' John iv. 14. So 
that nothing crin be more certain than the final perfever- 
ance of the faini^ ; '^'^d ihcreipre, however the vifible iii- 



%^(> LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

tereft of religion mdy be on thie defcline, and particular 
churches decay or diflblve, yea, and a child of God be 
found dead in his frame, the man that hath root in himfalf 
fliall endure to the end ; fuppdfmg therefore that th« 
graces of the chriftian are here intended, it cannot be juft- 
ly inferred, beciaufe he may in this imperfe<ft ftate feem to 
languifti awhile, and partially fail in his fruits, that there- 
fore he (hall totally fall from grace, and perifli at lalh AU 
thatckh be fairly concluded is this, that the real faint is 
liable to decays, againft which it becomes him to watch^ 
or that, when he is fallen, means are to be ufed for his 
recovery, which are truths univerially acknowledged. 

They feem nearer the purpofe who underftand by thefe 
things backllider^ among them, who, in appearance, were 
on the point of cafting off their faith. In this yiew it is a 
feaforiable exhortation to the church to "admonifb and re- 
prove them, and, if poffible, prevent their total apoftac^ 
and ruin. But I apprehend that the warks of this pecf^ 
pie, on which the Lord hath an eye, and which he declares 
to be imperfe^l in the very next claufe, are the things 
chiefly, if not folely intended. And the things or works, 
which belong to a gofpel church-flate, are recited, A6ls ii. 
42. namely, doftrine, fellowlhip, breaking of bread and 
prayers, which comprehend the whole of the faith, wor- 
flirp anddifciplineeffentialto chriftian communion. Now 
Jt ieems there remained fome works among this backfliding 
people, they were not totally departed from the truths of 
the gofpel, nor had they entirely foriaken the afffembling 
of themfelves for the worftiip of God, and the difciplinc 
of his houfe ; their united prayers were not wholly ceaf- 
ed, neither were they utter ft rangers to thofe offices of 
kindnefs and love which are the genuine fruit of a cordial 
lellowfliip in the Spirit. Had there been nothing of this 
found among them, they had not exifted as a church ; bnt 
alas, they were flothful and partial, and fcarce faved ap- 
pearances ; they were fo backward and unftable, that 
thefe things were hardly maintained ; they were fmking 
daily, and feem almoft expiring and gone. Under this 
Ihameful and dangerous declenfion, they are called upon 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 277 

to reftore and confirm their feeble and dying ftate, each 
one to return to his duty, and to exert himielf in repair- 
ing thofe decays that were found in the houfe of the 
Lord. 

As one means of awakening thefe backfliders to repent- 
ance, the holy Redeemer makes the following report, which 
might juftly alarm them, '* I have not found thy works 
*^ perfed before God 1" q. d. " I that fearch the heart 
.'f-izlnd try the reins, have examined thy works, and reje£l; 
*'• them as unfound and imperfeft in the prefcnce of God ; 
'^ they are fuch as cannot be pleafmg to him, nor will he 
" accept them." Thus the fervices of thefe degenerate 
people are as it were thrown back in their faces, or re- 
turned upon them as naught. But, can we loek for per- 
fe^ion in the works of a community compofed of imper- 
fect and fallible.men) which is the cafe with thepureft fo- 
ciety upon earth? No church ever yet pretewded to in- 
fallibihty, except that apoflate one, whofe errors, fuper- 
ftition and idolatry, notorioufly contradiA her arrogant 
claim ; what then is intended by a want of perfeftion ? 
The native id-ea of the expreffion here ufed, is fulnefs, 
and this complaint manifeilly intends a criminal^' defeil, 
or that flie did not exert herfelf with the integrity and 
dihgence required. We are told that at Corinth they 
came behind in no gift ; but, alas, at Sardis they are 
charged with not coming up to their ability, which amounts 
to no lefs than a charge of hypocrify itfelf, and anfwers 
to the character already given of this church. The works 
of a church are imperfect, when her members deal deceit- 
fully one with another, and are each making idle, it may 



* In like manner the Ifraelites who periflied In the wildemcfs, arc 
charged with not having fully followed the Lord, as Caleb and JoAiua 
did. See Numb. xiv. 24. I'he Hebrew word there ufed, fignifiescom- 
pleat, or rather filled as a fhip under fail carried ftrongly with the winds, 
as if fhe feared neither rocks nor fands. Leigh's Crit. This flacknefs 
and deficiency through negledt, is highly provoking to the Lord, as ap- 
pears from the above awful inftance of his difpleafure ; an enfample to 
warn us againft floth and unfaith fulnefs, in what concerns our h©ly pro- 
fcflion. 



•a^8 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

l>e falfe pretences for not fupplying his part ; fo that het 
aifemblies are fmall, and her works, however compara^^ 
lively tolerable, come (liort of the power fhe hath, and 
what is required at her hands. In a word, when a people 
can do more and better than they do, and are fhort for 
Vv'ant of exerting the gifts they have received, then their 
woiksarenot perfed ; they may feem fo to men, and to 
the delinquents themfelves, who, like thofe of Laodicea, 
ver, 17. reay boaft that they are rich and increafed in 
■goods, but to the Lord, whofe eyes are as a flame of fire, 
their linfiil imperfection appears, and on which account 
they are highly difpleaiing in his fight, and though he is 
gracious and long-fuffering, yet he is jealous of his honor, 
and will one day condemn thofe who trifle with his name, 
and negleil the facred inftitutions of his love. Thus, as 
in the hand-writing of Belihazzar, tekel is infcribed on 
this fallen church,^ (lie "is weighed in the balances, and 
*'*' found wanting," by the King of faints. This charge 
is the more aflelling, as it is laid on her works without 
any exception — "-^ I have not found thy works perfeCl be- 
** fore God." Awful fentence indeed 1 and the rather as 
it is a fentence confirmed by the infallible truth of him 
that pronounced it. Had this charge proceeded from the 
lips of a creature, it might have been falfe; but who will 
difpute what Jefus, the Amen and faithful witnefs, de- 
clares ? Many are the falfe accuHitions which are laid 
againft the righteous, by the world and Satan, from which 
tf^y fliall hereafter be cleared, but that people are cer- 
tainly guilty who are charged by the Lord himfelf; their 
mouths will therefore be (topped, neither fliall any plead 
f'n' them, no, nor fave them from his juft indignation, for 
as this rebuke implies his abhorrence of their floth and 
hvpocrify, it likewife befpeaks his coming up.on them 
in judgment unlefs they repent, according to a fubfequent 



From tliis account it appears that the Lord is judge of 
thpfe works which are periormed in agofpel church-itate, 
and that when his people are fenfible of threatning declen- 
sions, they are required to exert themfelves in order to 



TO THE CHURCH AT SAUDIS. 279 

recover ; and it may be ufeful to confider in what points 
of light the Lord is a judge of his people, the meafiires 
to be taken to revive an interefl that is dying, and tiie 
reafons there are for attempting it> 

And firft, the judgment ofChrift in jiis church is mani- 
feft in refped of his omnifcience. He is a God oF know- 
ledge, by whom aftions are weighed, i Sam. ii. 3. This 
was the refort of Peter in a time of diftrefs, " Lord thou 
" knoweft all things," John xxi. 17. And in Heb. iv. 
13. fays the apoftle, " All things are naked and open unto 
'' the eyes of him with whom we have to do." An ex- 
coriated beaft, flain of old for a facrifice, hung up and open- 
ed to view, or even the anatomized body, dotli not lie fo 
expofed to the eye of the fkilful beholder, as our works 
to the Lord Jefus Chrift. He difcerns the thoughts and 
intents of the heart, and hath an exa6l and intuitive knov/- 
ledge of their number, nature and fprings of a61ion in his 
people, fo that nothing efcapes him. ^gain. 

This character our Lord fuftains inrefpe£l of his office. 
He is not only Judge as a divine perfon, but alfo as Media- 
tor. It belongs to him as the great Shepherd of the fiieep 
to infpe£l and judge his people ; to this he is appointed by 
the Father, who hath committed all judgment to his Son; 
fo that Chrift is invefted with this power in his paftoral 
capacity, being feated on the throne in his church. Every 

(community under a profeffion of his name, and each par- 
Ijcular member thereof is fubjed to his examination, and 
jnuft ftand before his Judgment-feat. And further, the 
Redeemer is judge of his people in a practical fenfe ; i. e. 
he aftually and conftantly infpedls their work in the cha- 
racter of a judge. We cannot with decency fuppofe tliat 
the holy Jefus doth not execute the commiflion he hath 
received, or exert this authority in the midftof his churches; 
and the inftance before us proves that he is aClive in judg-. 
ment upon them, for when he faith, " I have not found 
" thy works perfeCl," he fpeaks as one that liad examined 
and proved them ; fo that his eyes are on his people, not 
only as their Saviour to prefsrve them, but alfo as their 



a8o LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

judge to try them ; he has a balance or meafure in his 
hand to weigh and adjtift all they profefs to do in his nanje, 
and thofe which are not perfe^ or full according to their 
ability he will lurely reject, and regard not the perfons of 
any. Jn thefe refpe<!ls our Lord is judge of what is dpne 
in the chara6ler of a church ; in refpe^l of his eiTential 
omnifcience as a divine perfon, in refpeft of his ofRce, and 
in refped of his certain a^lual infpe£lion into their fpirit 
and condu(ft. It is therefore of the utmoft importance 
when tlTings are dying away in any, community, that they 
hearken to his voice and repent, as will hereafter more 
particularly be feen. 

But, what are the meafures to be taken in order to re- 
vive an intereft that appears on the decline ? Before we 
enter on particulars here it may be proper to note, that 
when things are come to this pafs, and a church is funk fo 
low, through long and repeated backilidings, as to be ready 
to diflblve, her aw^ened members are prone to defpond, 
and may be tempted, through guilt and unbelief, or from 
lloth and felf-love, to leave her, whitfh is mean and ungrate- 
ful ; yet this has been the conduit of fonve, in regard of 
the community to which they belonged, when flie ieemed 
to be going ; as a fhip in diftrefs is left by her company, 
who apprehend {he will fmk or be atherwife loft, fo hath ^ 
church in danger been forfaken by her members, till broken 
to pieces and ruined ; theycould not -endure the pains and 
felf-denial which peradventure might have faved her, but 
this is unbecoming a difciple of Jefus, and againft his direc- 
tion before us. It muft therefore be hi^ly difpleafing to. 
him, when any thus evad'e their endeavour to preferve and 
revive his declining caufe ; therefore let thofe who would 
have boldnefs at his coming fee to it, that nothing is want- 
ing on their part to reftore the finking intereft of religion 
in their hands, and the meafures to be taken in order to 
effect it are as follows : 

I. A stri£l and impartial enquiry into the ftate of the 
community, and the condition of its feveral members. In 
exhorting the difciples at Sardis,. to ftrengthen the things 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. zSi 

which were ready to die, there feems an allQfion to a na- 
tural body, which having long languifhed under a threat- 
ning diftemper, is in ail appearance, nigh unto death : And 
every one knows, that when a phyfician is called in this 
dangerous cafe, he firft examines into the nature of the 
difeafe, the parts affected, the time, occafion, and progrefs 
which the diforder hath made, with every other circum- 
flance relating to the patient's complaint : In like manner, 
when a people find themfelves on -the decline, in order to 
their recovery, they mufl: difcern what errors and ill ha- 
bits prevail, and confider who are defe^ive, and in what 
degree, under what temptation, and in a word how far 
the corporation is degenerated from its natural and primi- 
tive ftate. Without ajuft idea of her real condition in 
thefe particulars, the means of reftoration cannot be appli- 
ed, and things will grow worfe, till a diifolution enfues, if 
not timely prevented. To this method we are dire£led 
in the following words : " Remember therefore how thou 
*' haft received and heard, and repent.'' Of which in its 
place ; for the prefent it may fuffice, that in general this 
certainly implies a refle^lion on her fallen ftate, that fhe 
might be fenfible of her declenfions, and even know the 
worft of her cafe. This enquiry among a people fuffi- 
ciently awakened, who are in the way of recovery, will 
be perfonal, each affected will examine his own fpiritand 
conduct, and fay, " What have I done ?" Jer. viii. 6. 
And the fame will be carried on in public, by the infpefti- 
on of the paftor and other officers, and likewife by the 
church herfelf, who as a body corporate, will, in her dif- 
cipline aflemblies, be looking diligently, that by her fea- 
fonable admonition, and even cenfure, if needful, fhe may 
prevent a further fpread of diforders, and at length be per- 
fedlly reftored. Again, 

2. Another means required, is united and earneft pray- 
er to tlie Lord to heal our backflidings. We have deftroy- 
ed ourfelves, but our help is in him. The character Jefus 
affames, when fpeaking to this people, implicitly dire£ls 
them to himfelf, aspofleft ofalltliofe gifts, and .that grace 

M m 



o.Sz LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

which are needful to a flourlfhingftate. When the Lord 
is as the dew on Ifrael, then (he will revive as the corn j 
but for this he will be fought unto, without which his 
bleflingcannot be expelled. Befides the fervant prayers of 
the faithful, are in themfelves a means of reftoration : in 
prayer the graces of the Spirit areexercifed andftrength- 
ened. Prayer in the Spirit is of an edifying nature ; by 
this the heart is humbled, melted, purified and refrefli- 
ed : Hence, Jude ver. 20. the brethren are directed, in a 
time of falling away, to " build up one another on their 
" moll holy faith, praying in the holy Ghofl." The de- 
clining ftate of a church, appears in nothing more than in 
a negleft of her prayers : in proportion to this the love 
of God moft furely decays, infomuch that there is little or 
no hopes of recovery : When a people are not to be in- 
duced to wreftle at the throne of grace, they muft grow 
more and more formal and lifelefs, and be in the utmoft 
danger of ruin. 

3. When the things of a community are thus reduced, 
they are not likely to revive, unlefs there is a mutual 
activity and diligence in her members in their feveral fta- 
tions ; every man to his poll, and all hands employed in 
the work. As the recovery of the natural body from a 
threatning, diforder depends much on a due circulation, 
and each member performing its function, fo is Chrift. It 
is not fufficient to behold our declenfions; or to bewail 
them, either to the Lord or to one another : Like Ifrael 
of old, I Chron. xxii. 16. we muft arifc and be doing, in 
hopes that the Lord will be with us. " Why ft:and ye 
•"^ crying ? faith the Lord to Mofes, fpeak to the children 
'' of Ifrael that they go forward." In a word, infpeclion 
snd prayer are vain without a refolution in the ftrengthpf 
the Lord to hold faft and repent. If prayer-meetings are 
ever fo frequent or full, they will come Ihort of a remedy , un- 
lefs individuals fill up their places ; for the- works of that 
church can never be perfed, whofe members fail of the^r 
duty: To complain of defe<^3 without endeavouring to 
fupply them, is highly ablbrd, a condu£l which tends ftill 
moVe to weaken the caufe. Now if any man would know 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 2^83 

his particular duty, under declenfions in- the fociety to 
which he belongs, his confcience will tell him ; and the 
fcripture is fo plain, with refpe^l to that nobleft of focie- 
ties, a church, that no one can plead ignorance. He that 
will not attend her affemblies, and exert his ability in the 
ftation he holds, turns away his ear from the voice pf • 
Chrift, and v«^ill not regard the welfare of Zion. 

One motive in them who love God and his people, for 
exerting themfelves in reftoring the affairs of a church 
when gone to decay, is her imminent danger. Hence the 
Lord notes to this people, that the things which remained 
were " ready to die j" q. d. confider how near you are to 
a total lofs of thofe things which belong to your ftate : if 
they fliould entirely ceafe you are utterly ruined. Nov/ 
the more threatning the cafe of a difordered conftitution, 
the greater the concern of him who defires topreferve it, 
and his diligence after its recovery will be in proportion : 
In like manner when things are ready to expire in a chrift- 
ian community, an argument is drawn by her prudent and 
affedionate members from the danger apprehended, for be- 
ing fpeedy and a«^ive to revive. her. Again,- 

A profpe^ of her recovery is another inducepnent. This 
alfo is fuggefted in the warning before us. A command 
from God to repent and return to duty, implies a promife 
of remiffion and fuccefs to them that obey. This call on 
the church at Sardis was a kind intimation that fiie 
might be recovered, and a feafonable encouragement to 
arife for her help, and especially as the Lord re vealed him felf 
to her under characters expreffive of his power and grace. 
This was a token for good, and an argument with every 
wife and confiderate perfon to do what in him lay to re- 
flore her, it appearing that however dangerous her cafe, 
it was not yet defperate ; yea, there was the higheft rea- 
fon to conclude that his labour (hould not be in vain, fince 
he that called him to this fervice is able to render it ef- 
feClual. While there is life, we fay, there is hope. The 
animal frame may be in a languilhing ftate ; through a 
prevailing difeafe, or a complication of diibrders, ii may 



284 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

be brought very low, fcarce any pulfe to be difcerned, yeay 
and the vital principle fo retire as to be out of the view 
even of a Ikilful phyfician, and at the fame time it may 
exift, and recover its vifible force, fo that it is not always 
eafy to determine whether or not it is actually dead ; but 
this we know, that as long as any fenfible warmth and 
motion remains, there is hope that in the ufe of means 
the fpirit may revive, and a vigorous circulation return, 
whereby the body fliall again be ftrengthened for the alliens 
of life. In like manner the fymptoms of fpiritual life and 
the love of God in which true religion fubftantially con- 
iifts, may, through a prevailing carnality and corruption, 
be reduced very low, andfcarcely perceived in a chriftian 
community, of whofe recovery we are not to defpair ; 
there may yet be life in her ; many of her members, who 
feem formal and dead, may be concealed in darknefs, dif- 
couraged and fearful under various temptations, who on 
due application may be animated and (hew themfelves 
alive : their graces may yet be drawn forth into exercife, 
by whofe activity and diligence the church will be reftored 
and flouriih again. Thus, though things are apparently 
dying, they may ftill revive ; and there is always ground 
to hope that a people however declined, being feniible of 
their condition, on returning to their Lord and their duty, 
fhall not be difiTolved or deflroyed ; and is not this an argu- 
ment for feeking to revive her again, even in the moil 
dangerous circumftances ? 

And further ; the excellency and ufe of a chriftian 
church-ftate, is another ftrong motive to an endeavour af- 
ter its prefervation and welfare. We are fallen in a time 
when the yoke of Chrift feems rather grievous to fome, 
whofe pretence of knowledge runs high, and have reafon 
to lament that the communion of faints fuits not the 
popular ftate of the day ; yea, fome even prefume to plead 
a liberty from it, and, as it were, glory in their negle£l of 
gofpel-appointments, as if it was the privilege of a chrift- 
ian to live free from the orders of his Lord, or becoming 
his character to defoifethem ;but that notion of chriftianity, 
which includes not a perfonalfubjedion to the ordinance? 



i 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 285 

of the Redeemer, is prepofterous and vain, and a more ^ 
threatningfymptom cannot appear among nominal chrift- : 
ians, than a prevailing omiffion of that divine fellowfliip 
\n which the called bind themfelves to walk together in 
the Lord. If this becomes general in a nation, where 
the golpelis preached, the kingdom of God v/ill foonbe ■ 
removed, and along with it departs liberty, civil and re- 
ligious, in confequence of which a country is debafed; 
and enflaved; witnefs all Afia, and other parts of the 
earth, formerly the feat of flourifliing churches, like the 
city of Sardis, once famous, while the golden candleftick 
adorned her, but, as already obferved, (lie now appears a 
poor contemptible village. So then gofpel-churches are 
the glory of aland, with which ftand conneded all that 
is dear, and this will be an argument with every feniible 
perfon to exert himfelf in reftoring the church to which 
he belongs, when her things are declining. Indeed the 
continuance of the gofpel doth not depend on any particular 
congregation, yet every fociety of believers, in which the 
do<^rine, difcipline and worfhip of Chrift is maintained^ 
is apart of his vifible intereft in, a nation ; itmuft there- 
fore be a grief to thofe who lay to heart the glory of God, 
and the good of mankind, when they behold fuch a foci- 
ety in danger of dilfolving. 

The importance of maintaining a gofpel-church will 
alfo appear, when we confider the promife fhe hath of^* 
the Redeemer's prefence and bleffing, which is a further- 
motive to preferve it : By a diilblution of an orderly fo- 
ciety of believers, who are entitled to this gracious aflur- 
rance, we are deprived of one precious means of commu- 
nion with God, the manifeftative glory of Chrift, the con- 
verfion of finners, and the comfort of them that believe ; 
who then that hath any regard for the honor of Jefus, or 
the welfare of fouls, can fail of being excited, on reflec- 
tion, toufe his utmoft endeavour to prevent it i 

Befides, it will be an argument with the awakened back- 
flider to a fpeedy and vigorous attempt for reftoring a 
church that is near a difiolution, if he himfelf hath con- 
'tributed to her threatning declenfions. Things never 



286 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

come- to this pafs in a community without the defetl 
and folly, at leaft of many individuals ; it is probable that 
few, if any, are entirely free from being in fome meafure 
the occafion of this deplorable ftate ; however in propor- 
tion to a fenfe of the injury done a fociety by a man's 
ovv-n conduft, muft his readinefs be to repair it. If we 
behold a natural body langufhing under pain and ficknefs, 
and in dagger, will not humanity itfelf demand our imme- 
piate affiitance, if poffible, to revive it ? But if, as may 
be the cafe, we are confcious that our own negle£l, or 
abufe of this body, has been the (hameful caufe of its per- 
ifliing condition, are we not ftill more obliged to lay out 
ourfelves withaview to its recovery ? The application is 
eafy. Every ingenuous perfon will be careful about ref- 
toring an intereft, the declenfion of which is in fome de- 
gree owing to himfelf. And if they who feem little con- 
cerned at the dying ftate of a community to which they 
belong, and who are pra^lically faying, Let the caufe 
iink, were duly fenfible of their own conduct, they would 
fee it highly incumbent on themfelves, more tlian on others 
to arifefor its help. Add to thefe, the reward which is 
infured to ihofe who feek the honour of God, which is 
another juft motive for reftoring the beauty of his houfe. 
This is expreffed in the following claufe : " He thatover- 
*' Cometh, the fame Ihall be clothed in white raiment ;" 
of which in its place. It requires felf-denial and'courage 
to ftand up for the purity and order of the.gofpel, when 
it is generally negle^ed or defpifed. A man muft exert 
his ability, and it may be endure the refentment and fcorn 
of thofe who, wedded to their lufts, will oppofe a re- 
formation ; and if he has heretofore, in any degree, com- 
plied with the evil of ihe time, or been off from his watch, 
which, as hinted, is probable, it will be ftill more diffi- 
cult for him ; he muft firft cleanfe himfelf, and forfake 
-every fmful indulgence that hath turned him afide, and 
may expeft many reflections to difliearten him from unit- 
ing in the work, but the man need not fear whofe repent- 
ance is evinced by a return to his duty ; Ke fliall not only 
be forgiven, but likewiie fliare in the recompence promil*« 
ed ; for no man's labor fliall be vain in the Lord. 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. :iSy 

It appears then that the chriflian ought not to fqrfake 
his ftation in the church, when things are declined and feeui 
ready to vani(h away; no, by no means. The members 
of a community in decay have reafon to mourn, and it may 
be, to be covered with fliame for their own backflidings, 
but can have none to defpair ; however threatning the 
danger, if they awake and repent, and diligently follow the 
things they have negle^led, there is ftill a profpeft of re- 
covery, which, with the excellency of this gofpel-conilitu^ 
tion,and efpecially when the fubjed is confcious of being 
acceflary to the declenfions lamented, and the certain fu- 
ture reward of the righteous, are cogent arguments for an 
attempt to reftore a church- ftate, even under the loweft 
circumftances that can be fuppofed. And, can the love 
of God dwell in that man, who is not to be engaged by 
either or all of thefe motives, unto a zeal for the welfare 



While we mourn the dying intereft of Jefus among us, 
may we not juftly admire his love and patience, thus to warn 
his backlliding people, and gracioufly meet them with a 
promife on repentance. But, Reader, forget not that 
religion is a perfonai thing, and allow me to fay, that in 
whatever ftate the particular community may be with whom 
thou art connected, as an hearer or member, thou thyfelf 
may be in a fimilar condition with that of this church ; in 
thy own religious experience and practice the things which 
remain may be on the decline, and almoft expired. Per- 
mit me, with freedom, to afk thee, How ftands it with the 
frame of thy foul? It may be thy cafe. In-time pail (m 
pierced thy heart, and thou wall then anxious for repent- 
ance and pardon; thy breathing was earneft after an 
intereft in Chrift, and the inheritance of them who are 
fan£lified by faith, in order to communion with the Lord 
and his people, but now, alas, thefe convif^ions are worn 
off", and, through the cares of the world and the pleafures 
of life, thy former defires are abated or gone, thou art 
ready to quit all concern about the kingdom of God and 
his righteoufnefs, and tolay afide the thoughts of living t:,:> 
the Saviour, under a profeflion of his name. Doth conipi- 



i88 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

ence tell thee that thou art in this manner gone backward, 
and that thine heart is almoft a rtranger to this holy con* 
cern and affe£lion? Great is thy delufion and danger I I 
befeech thee to hear what Jefus faith by his Spirit to this 
fallen church, " ftrengthen the things which remain." It 
is of the utmoft importance, therefore repent in due feafon, 
for if thou a:rt not conformed to this exhortation, behold, 
hecoraeth to judgment, when thou and thy religion^ fuch 
as it is, will perifti together. 

But again, my dear Friend, how is thy private devo- 
tion maintaiaed ? Enter into thy clofet, true religion firft 
appears there, and there a decay from its power is firft to 
be difcerned. Once every opportunity of retirement was 
embraced, to pour out thy foul unto God, to contemplate 
his law, and for felf examination ; then it was thy cuftom 
to come forth from thy chamber into the family, thy 
children and fervants were aifembled for prayer, readings 
and other exercifes of a fpiritual nature. Thus fome be- 
gin, and it may be goon for a while, till worldly bufinefs 
and carnal company interfere ; alas, they cannot withftand 
the temptation, their goodnefs is as the morning-cloud, 
and as the early dew it paffeth away. And are any like 
fymptoms on thee, chrifiian Reader ? are thefe things omit- 
ted, or are they attended in an uncertain, cold and indif- 
ferent manner, infomuch that there is danger of their be- 
ing utterly forfaken ? O be wife, and confider, arife from 
the dead, fleiS fromthofe lufts that have enticed thee, and 
return immediately unto him from whom thou hail fooliili- 
ly departed. 

Finally, Is there a fenfible and vifible alteration for the 
worfe in thy public or focial religion? Formerly thy feet 
were prepared for the temple, and hearing the word of 
the Lord was delightful, it was a pleafure to fit at his ta- 
ble, and his ordinances were highly efteemed, infomuch 
that the return of his fabbaths \vas.the joy of thy foul: 
But haft thou loft thy reliih for thefe facred and precious 
enjoyments ? are they become wearinefs to thee ? and doft 
thou excufe thyfelf on every occafion, and of choice abfcni 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 389 

•from the fanftuary or make light of thy deficiency in 
he reiafve duties of communion ? It is indeed a fad cafe 
to become thus unfruitful, and for the leaves of thy pro! 
feffion to fade and fall off in this manner. Thus hypo 
cntes often fl.de away and turn apoftates to their rub. 
Par be ,t the Reader niould have in the end his portioi^ 
w th unbelievers ! But I would hope better thini even 
things that accompany falvation. And haft thou tftaped 
or overcome the temptations by which many are caft 
d-own and deftroyed, and in a flouriftung ftate, in thefe 
points of religion; thou art highly favoured of heateni 
Adore the grace by which thou hall Itood, be ftill on thy 
giiard and whoever draws back, cleave thou with purpofe 
of heart unto the Lord. In one word, may all who caU 
upon the name of the Lord, hearken ^nto the words of 
Peter, ,n the c lofe of his fecond epiftle, and with which 
I conclude tins leaure. " Ye therefore, beloved. feeW 
_ ye know the e things before, beware, left ye alfo, beinl 
led away with the error of the wicked, fall from you? 

.ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift: To him 
" be glory, both now and forever. Amen." 



LECTURE 



N 



3^0 LECTUItES ON THE EPISTLE 






L E C T U R E XXIII. # 



i/ repetition qJ the Redeemer's call to rtpentan^y^piii! 
particular direSiioHs ; and a tbreatning th c^k of 
disobedience » 



OU R Lord having called upoa the church dt'Sardis, 
to reftore the things that were dying away^ gi%ci- 
ouily dire£ls her bow to proceed, but at the fa-me "titee 
threatens her if ihe did not repent : *' Remember 't^'ere-*^ 
'* fore how thou haft Tecei\fed and heard, -and h<^ld Ca^ 
*' and repent, if therefore thou fbalt not watch, I -will' 
*' eome on thee as a thief, and thou (halt T>ot know in' 
" what hour I will come upon thee." An a^^ak^t^^ng 
meflage, by which they who are -on the decline, in their 
religious charatler are inftru^led and warned, and which 
may be applied to chriftians in every age, in a private or 
focial capacity. 

The pririQipal thing to be confidered is that which ftands 
firft, an exhortation to look back and review pad experi- 
ence and condutft from the beginning : " Remember there- 
" fore how thou haft received and heard." Hearing is 
the nieans of ^he obedience of faith ; and this degener- 
ate people -are 'direfted to refle£l on the-manner in which 
they embraced the truth, or the fpirit and behaviour which 
prevailed among them at the beginning. It is a call on 
the church, or on her members in particular. In refpe<9; 
of fociety, it refers to their original firaplicity and zeal in 
the faith and order of Chrift, from whence ftie was fallen: 
" Remember how thou haft received and heard ;" call to 
mind the manner of entrance the gofpel had when firft 
preached among you, with v/hat readinefs and joy ye re- 



TO THE CHUIICII AT SARDIS. at?i 

ceived It, on wh^j;-'foiiiid^ttont4iechtircli fiate was raifed^ 
how vvatcliful, diligent, ansd lively her memfeieFs^ and Qonon 
pare it with herprefent i'ecure and lukewarm condition. 

SoTue apply this to the prefent t];ate of the Proteftaivt 
chtirches, who are in general but coo HfvUjck gone ofi'from; 
t.hat- purity in dodrinev worfliip awi dilcipiine, for whiclV' 
they we^re famous, when they firlt renounced the errors - 
of Rome, as obferved in a preceding le<!lure, and parti* 
cularly in refpe6l of die grand and capital articlg of j.u^i*'-. 
fication by grace, in oppofition to the merit of works. It: 
cannot modeftly be denied, but that the religious fenti*-; 
itients and practice, which now pre-vaii in Qene\^a, HqI- ' 
land, and other foreign Proteftant ftates^ differ wide froi^ 
thofe that were avowedxin the reiorniation : And^ Q that 
,q^.native country could be eiicepted;! But, ?Jas.>, the; 
pulpitr the prefs, and the popular tafte, unite in de.clar* 
ing our (hameful departure. This alfo appears when yvei 
compare the tenets which are in a matvner univerfally 
fpread, with the inftruments of origintd union and arti* • 
cles of faith, which, notwithftanding the contempt caft . 
upoo the truths contained in them, areftiil extant by pub-. 
Uc authority, together wUh th^ writings of the firft 
reformers in every place ; all wkith Jf>a4iy telHfy againft 
us!"' . ;--::.,.• 

But, pafling this, the people at Sardis were greatly cor- » 
rupted, infomuch that few had efcaped the general polluti- 
on ; fo fad was their departure from the fimplicity and 
hoiinefs which originally adorned thejchurch hi'that'plac©, 
the remains of which glory was fading awaV' In thefe 
diigraceful circumftances (he is bid to remember. In a 
difordered (late of bodv, no faculty is fooner impaired 
thxm the memory ; and a chriftian fociety, when &nk and 
depraved, are forgetful of their former zeal and -goad 
works ; a lerious refle^lion on which might bring them 
to repentance. The precife date of the epiifle is uncer- 
tain, but doubtlefs this church, with others in Afia, had 
fubfifted a confiderable time ; fo great a declenfion could 
hardly obtain in a few years only, .yet .fooae aged perfons. 



29Z LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE - 

as the evangelift liimfelf, might remember her gathering, 
and witnefs the melanchply difference. 

Under thefe decays the fame reflection becomes indi- 
viduals ; every perfon fliould examine himfclf, and enquire, 
how did I come under aprofefled fubjeftion to the gofpel ? 
Was it from a deep conviClion of my miferable ftate as a 
finner, and a perfuafion of the authority and grace of Jefus, 
as the only and all-fufficient Saviour, that I trufted in him, 
and furrendered myfelf to his will ? O my foul, now fo un • 
favoury and carelefs, call to mind the love of thine efpoiifais, 
and the kindnefs of thy youth ! How didft thou receiv^e 
Chrift Jefus the Lord, and hear the tidings of his mercy 1 
how precious then was the word of his grace! with what 
fweetnefsandpower didit come to thy heart !0 the readinefs 
andjoy with whichthou laid hold on the hope fetbeforethee I 
thou waft then impatient for feafons of communion with the 
Lord and his people; but now, alas, how indifferent tovi^ards 
them, the new moons and fabbaths are almoft a wearinefs 
to thee ; confider how thou art fallen ; the danger thou 
^t in, and how provoking thy condu£l, and repent 1 When 
a backfllding chriftian is enabled thus to reflecl on his firft 
fetting out in religion, there is hope of his recovery, and 
that he will be ftedfaft in every branch of his holy pro- 
feflion, which is the next thing required. " And hold faft," 
i. e, keep diHgently the precious do6lrines and ordinan-^ 
ces thou hall received, with a watchful eye, that they be 
not loft or taken away, which agrees with the following 
fentence, and implies the danger they v^ere in through the 
fubtlety of Satan, to whom they had already given place, 
and likewife that it required their utmoft ioiicitude and 
ftrength to preferve them. It is added, " and repent," i. e. 
be wife and turn from your evil, as perfons convinced, 
of their folly, return unto me. The word fignifies after^ 
wit, and alludes to the madnefs of thofe who depart from 
the Lord. Thus the prodigal, who is an emblem of a 
penitent finner or backfiider, is faid to come to himfelf. 
When men wander from God and the order of the gofpel, 
-.may truly be faid that a deceived heart hath turned them 

-le^ they are as it were infatuated through the deceit-^. 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 193 

^Inefs of fin ; and when fuch are reftored to their fpifit- 
ual^fenfes, they will be covered with fliame, and thankful 
for the grace that has prevented their ruin, and. their 
change will be attended with future diligence in every 
duty. 

As a further means of awakening this church, flie is 
threatned in cafe of difobedif;nce ; If therefore thou flialt 
'' not watch :" if, after all my patience and warning, thou 
continueft fupine and carelefs, and. will not awake and be 
on thy guard, " I will come upon thee as a thief." Many 
are the chaftnings in (lore for a lool^ and hypocritical ge- 
neration of profeflbrs ; fometimes they are hewed by the 
prophets of the Lord, and ilain by the words of his mouth, 
Hof. vi. 5. He animates his fervants to cry aloud and 
Ipare not, but iliew them their tranfgreflions and fins, who 
are fure to meet with their refentment, unlefs they are 
reclaimed. At other times the hand of his provideqcc is 
againft them, and they are diminidied by ficknefs and 
death, as at Corinth. Again he hides his face that they 
cannot behold him, or it may be his Spirit is with held, 
and the dew is not on their fleece; they are barren and 
comfortlefs, iheir breads are dry, and a mifcarrying v/omb 
i$ their portion, Hof. ix. 14. Or, once more, when join* 
ed to their idols, as Ephraim, he lets them alone. Thefe 
are tokens of his diipleafure, which a fenfible people will 
deprecate : But,the threatning before us is ftill more alarm- 
ing, it is not to correal, but to deftroy ; a threatning of 
vengeance, the terror of which will appear, if we conii- 
der, 

I. That the Lord himfelf was to come upon th<^^,m. If 
an angel, or even but a man had been com milTioned from 
heaven to challize them in anger, they might juftly have 
trembled at the thought of his approach, but how fearful 
to fall into the hands of the living God, of Jefus himlelf, 
whofe power is infinite and whole face, as an angry judge, 
neither earth nor heaven can endure ! Every attribute af- 
cribedto the Redeemer in that grand and awful defcripti- 
on, chap. i. and eUe where, is properly applied to this 



294: LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

threatrijng, " I will come upon tliee:" I, wbofe eyefeafe 
as aflame cf fire, who fearcheth the. heart and the reins ; 
I, whofe feet are as fine brafs, as if they burned in a fur- 
nace^ to tread down mine enemies and trample them in my 
fury; I, whofe voice is as the found of many waters, as 
the roaring ofthefea; I that have the feven ftars in my 
right hand, ahd out of whofe mbiith goeth a iharp t\Vo- 
edged fword ; 1, whofe countenance is as the fun fliining- 
in his ftrength, before whom no lielli can ft and. j in a word, 
L that have the ke^s of de-atll and hell, and kill and make 
alive at my pleafure ; 1, even " Lwill come upon thee,'-< 
Awful expectation 1 Who among the guilty is pre,pared 
to meet this offended God in his anger !> But, 

2. The comparifon ufed by our Lord to illuftrate.liife^ 
coining, is another confiderable aggravation, " a$ a thief.'* 
This denotes the manner and the end of his vifitatton. i. 
It implies that he would come on a fudden ; which indeed 
is contained in the phrafe itfelf, come on^ i Sam. ii. 34. 
but the idea is {fill more enlivened .by the comparifon, the 
♦ thief Cometh unawares.- Hence faith our Lord, Matt. 
xkiv, 43. ^^ If the good man of the houfe had known in 
*^ what watch the thi^f would come," &c. And that 
this is principally intende<l, appears from the following 
fentence, " I'hou {halt not know in what houl' I will come 
*' upon thee." In this manner the world of old was de- 
llroyed, and tbus it will be in all divine, judgment, " the 
*'' day of the Lord fo cometh as a thief in the night/' i 
Their, v. 2. and particularly in removing the candleftick 
out of his place, for the fms of abackfliding people; *^Be- 
" hold I come as a thief. Bleffed is he that watcheth and 
*"' keepeth his garments," Rev. xvi.' 15. which agrees 
with the condition in the text, already confidered. Befides 
this, 2. it alfo intimates the end of his coming, which is 
to deprive* and ruin the impenitent : *' The thief com- 



* Chrift cannot be faid to come ?.s a thief in an evil fenfe, morally fpeak- 
ing ; his efientia! jroodnefs and righteoufntfs forbid our entertaining fo 
bdfe or uhwdrthy idea of his coming, Ss thlt it is Avith any uhjuft or cruel 
dtffign, but certainly the end of his judgaaeftt ii the deftrudlion «f unbe-- 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 295 

" c^ ttot, Imt for to fteal, and to kill, and todeftroy,*' 
John X. 10. Thus the wrath of the Lamb comes on wil- 
ful and ftubborK traRfgreffors, but with this difference, 
that, whereas the eondudt of the thief is unjuft and finful, 
the judgments of the Lord <ire righteous. And, 

3. This threatnittg 1^3 the more dreadful, as it leaves no 
hope of further warning er patience ; It is the laft melFage, 
-in contempt of which they are doomed to immediate de- 
ftruftion ; nothing can be more abfolute than the terms 
of tliis awful declaration, *^ If therefore thou flialt not 
" watch, I will corae upon thee.'' Wo be to them who 
are at €afe in Zion ; they are threatned with fudden de- 
ftru<^ion from the Lord, who will himfelf come upon them, 
except they repent. 

See thei?, O Chriftian, the difplearure of thy Redeemer 
with thofe w'ho are unfaithful and fVuitlcfs underapro- 
feilion of his name : he is a holy and jealous God, atid 
cannot endure a lukewarm and deceitful conduft in them 
tl>at approach him. He hath compaKion on the framed 
of ifiis faints, yea, and when they fin through infirmity, he 
is their advocate with the Father, as it were to cover 
their involuntary failings, and to plead againft every ac- 
cufatiofi of the adverfary ; but when a people, having th6 
foriii of godlinels, become habitually negligent and partial, 
it is an affront to all his perfe<ftions ; fuch perfons pro- 
voke him to his face, and if after due warning, they pre- 
iiame in this manner to defpife him, his amger will i'mok© 
againft. them, aRti utterly eonfume them ! 

Beware then f)f fettling on the lees, and refling in a 
name for religion : thou art under a profeffion and waft 
loiTRerly active and fruitful, but art thou now become life- 
lefs an4 formal ? Remember the zeal and good works of 
this ftilkn church in her primitive ftate was no excufe for 



Ijever? and l^ypoprites and the corapai-ifon is onjy in rp^ieA ef Aich jftff 
" ye, brethren, are not in darkiK'fs, th&t that day ftipuJd overtake ycu«l-« 
" thief," I Thefa. v. 4. 



%()6 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE- 

her prefent defe^lion and floth, fhe is threatned with the 
vengeance of heaven notwithftanding her former goodnefs, 
and the fame, fhe now had for being alive^ tliefe things 
availed not with the Lord in whofe fight flie was falfe, and 
came ftiort of her chara<fter ; therefore be not fecure in 
the opinion of men, Go^ is not mocked ; and when he 
comes on impenitent tranfgreffors, the works they have 
forfaken will witnefs againft them, rather than jullify 
their prefent hypocrify and negligence, or hide them from 
his wrath ; therefore, boaft not thyfelf, thou baGkiliding 
pi'ofefTor, in what thou haft been, or in what others now 
.take thee to be ; arife from the dead, and repent, fo ftialt 
thou be approved of thy judge, and his anger Ihall not fall 
upon thee. , 

How deplorable the condition of thofe who are over- 
taken by an injured and offended Saviour I The fuggeftion 
is ftrong with refped to this church, that if Chrift came 
upon her, as he threatned, (he would be mifetably def* 
troyed: "I will come on you j" q. d. and what will you 
do ? whither can you flee ? Haft thou an arm like God ? 
or canft thou thunder with a voice like him ? If I am 
againft thee, who can be for thee, or fave thee ? This is 
the language of the threatning before us j it is the word 
of a King^ and it comes with power^ for he is able to 
deftroy all thofe who hate him. IfSatan or the world 
come on a church, or the chriftian is attacked from any 
other quarter, the temporary fufFering and lofs may he- 
great, yet a deliverer is at hand, but when the omnipo* 
tent Jefus himfelf overtakes the finner in judgment, there, 
is no efcape or remedy, deftru£liGn will enfue, he is ter- 
rible in righteoufnefs, when he comes to take vengeance 
on the workers of iniquity, and more efpecially on hypo- 
crites in ^ion. Hear what he fays when he uttered his 
voice and roared out of Zion; " I will be unto Ephraim 
** as a lion, and as a young lion to the houfe of Judah : I^ 
" even I will tear, and go away ; I will take away and 
" none (hall refcue him," Hofea v. 14. He is ft ill the 
fame Lord, who will judge his people, and this will be the 
miferable end of all who defpife him. 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 297 

Neverthelefs, the patience and grace of the Lord Jefus 
Chrill: are difplayed, and demand our attention ; he is flow- 
to anger, and warns the generation that provoke him to 
j^alouiy before he comes on them to their ruin. Thus 
he waited long in the days of Noe before the flood 
came upon them, and forty years was he tempted by thetn 
Avho fell through unbelief in the wildernefs ; alfo the like 
fpace was granted to Jerufalem after the time of our Sa- 
viour, and fince the fpread of his kingdom in the world. 
No nation or people was ever deprived of a goi'pel church- 
ftate till after many warnings and great provocations. 
The language of Chrift in his word and providence, with 
reipe^l to a fallen people, is like that by the prophet to 
Ephraim, "How ftiall I give thee up ?*' as if his heart 
turned within him ; his repeated exhortations and much 
long-fuffering ftiews that he delights not in the deftru£lion 
of a people, or in removing the candlefl:ick out of his place; 
they fpeak againfl: the diflblution of churches, and call 
loud on delinquents to repent and be fiived. 

It appears then, that tiothing but a perverfe and im- 
penitent fpirit will bring down the wrath of Go.d on a 
people ; however long a church may have been on the 
decay or low flie is funk, though ftie hath years been de- 
clining, and her works are very imperfe6l, infomuch that, 
as at Sardis, her things which remain are ready to die, 
yet, if at length, by any means, her members are 
awakened, and return to the Lord, he will have mercy 
upon them ; and the like may be obferved in regard of 
any one perfon who is under declenfion ; a penitent back- 
Aider is not call into defpair by the feverefl: threatnings 
of Chrift, whofe love, grace and power are more than 
fufficient to reftore him, and who is ready t© heal his 
backflidings and accept the calves of liis lips. This 
fhould engage us when chaftned for our finful departures, 
to excite one another in the language of Ephraim and 
Judah, Hof. vi. i. "• Come, let us return unto the Lord; 
" for he hath torn, and he will heal us ; he hath fmitten» 
*'• and he will bind us up." In this confidence every re- 

O o 



\i§S ^ILt€tlri^S GNTTHE; EIFI5TLE 

^ f entkg' ^M^r^ •afl5i:"b:aGMiciing:]oeeipk^ -may 'c6 me to " tli c 
%e^^dJ'^nd fiftd 'f^tl'fe>i? -their foiilsi 

• 'Ifo ebhcliide,' L^fetfthis. dlviaermeiTage he iraprdved t^ 

^'he^ fa^tHful 'in -a' w^ay^' of ipTeventiow. /This fallen ; cHurdh 

^ is difiiiScld? to^ t^fefifi'embeif how fke had received, and heaixi ; 

-aftep Avhich 'wAs neidifal towards her recovery ;' and the 

OHn^^'riieans" 'Will 'he 'Of Excellent ufe fagainil every tempta- 

ti0*i-tO-fin,^^aiftl ©f, keeping. up-' a lively fenfe of I'eligion in 

ihe'^CMii. ' Ch4*itori,'iec thy:firftpfetting-out in the ways 

'bfthe'Lot'd'beeverl before thee ; daily recolle£l the graqe 

^'Htid pwver ejfgt'ted'in^thy converfion; i-emember, Bethel, 

^ik^het^t-holl-^rioint^d'thepallar^^nd began thy vows unto 

- tfty 'Gbd ; '' when- no' eyei'faw thde, I and thou gaveft thvf'^lf 
^^nnto ^he Lord; atfo frequently .cdnfider the manner and 
^^fti(>t4vfe-'^f*t-!iy= public .'farrender; .with -what reverence, 

- li'Ope! fti*iil •^jo'y) -■■W^ft ' thou ' baptized in • the nalrje of the 
^'LoM, Qftme^'lRto' his rhoufe,: fa t'dfowm- at his table, and 

numbered thj^-feif -with bis^raints. tOwthe grateful .fenle 
of his power and grace on thefe folemn occafions ! How 
-ditllit m^^it Thee,-alidi caure'the£>t'o pour out thy foiil in 
«fecret,-with fervent Supplications, dnd hoi}' refolutions to 
•^clfcave ito the Lord fwiehpurpofe of heart ! A frequent 
-lieview' of^tiiy jeJsperience.inwtthd'eigiracipws feafons hath.a 
^rirentlency to preferve thee in-anher&r. of temptation, and 
•cpcev^nt thdfebaokflidingsiwhich injmany have made work 
%for£bitter repentance ; but if any/ioan is already fellen in- 
to'v-fm, this recolieclion will reviveithe evidence of his cal- 
ding, and promote his recovery, fincetbis is the language 
xif^a covenariit -God tO' his people,' -who. mourn their. decien- 
;;fions : • '' -Tiirn, O backiliding dhiidren, for I ^m married 
//*>Mtintoi.yo«." And again, ••^iReturh, thou l^f.ckllidirg 
iM liiaelf-faith the Lord, and Lwili not caufe mine ange- 
. 'i*rto fail upon you.''' Haft thou been thus mercifully re- 
iiored, my dear Friend ? it will appear in thy lioiinc' 
and love ; keep thyfelf urifpotced, and, notwitbftandii, 
thine unworthinefs, tihou ihalthav.e 'honor- with t^hyiRf. 
deemer -at his appearance ai-xl kingdom. 






TQ 'TH& CHURCH AT SARDIS. 299. 



L EC'TtPW^'^:^^ 



The f(\{ti}fnU4i,sMn.g-^^Jk^, it^^i^iim of.ge^wHifp§ii9^. 



HI T H PL R T O the epiftle has boi^e a gloomy and 
tlireatning afpe.£t ; but tp^he^ypdght there a^ifeth 
a light iu darkneis ; an Ulullrious example of this nb}^ 
appears for the encourage qient bf'thofe who f^aij 0pdin 
a degenerate. age : " Thou haiia few! names evenip SV- 
" dis, which have npt d^filfcdtheif garments ; and they* 
" fliall walk with me in, white, for thdy are worthy." ver.' 
4. Amidft the lukewarmue^s ai;id hypocrify which in a 
riianner univerfally prevailed, here' af^ pi;efented to our 
view, chofen and, faithful perfons excepted from tHe 'ge- 
neral indi£lraent, and owned of the Lord, with a. pf6- 
mife. The'namjes of God's peppld^ are written in heaven, 
and'ever'beforehim. This, nb doubt is t-rue- in the moft 
literal fenfe, for it cannot with reafon be queftioned but 
the dmnifcient. Jejus, that great Ihepherd of the, flock, "f* 
'calleth his Qwn flieep by name ; but, in the paltage "be- 
fore us, names are evidently perfons, and the term thus 
applied conveys an idea of i^'eputatipn and honor ; for in- 
fiance^ Ecplef. vri, i. it is fajd, '> A name,"' i. e^ a good 
name, " is better than precious ointment/' And again, 
Job, chap», XXX. 8v fpeaks. of bafe men^ i.e. literally, men 
sMi(6a^it natnc ; not but the vilefl: of' men are fometiraes 
cxalt';;d: as in the days of Mai achi, chap. iii. 15. thfe 

* Luke X. 20. 

,j-j John x.,^« Accorclingly. I'yme . j^tef/Tons were prpphefied of by name, 
two or tnrjce Kuhdrtd years before tl^ielr 1)Irth, wit'nefs Jofiah ^d Cviifs. 
ce I Kings xiil. a. • a i^mj^s x;{ii.-xxiH. ahdlfa^xli\. aSi''- ■ "".TSvl J» 



30O LECTURES ON THE EPISTLK 

proud were called happy, and they who worked wickcd- 
nefs were fet up ; then the name of the righteous is ra- 
ther a prey than a praife ; but, however defpifed or tra- 
duced by men, they are a fweet favour to God, and (liall 
be honoured by him: So then thefe names are no other 
than eminent and honorable perfons of real chara6ler, and 
not of report only, as with the church in general, but good 
men and true, in the fight of him who trieth the reins, 
and accordingly are efteemcd and rewarded. This, ac- 
count contains a defcription of the perfons commended, 
their recompence of reward, and the propriety or fitnefs 
of conferring this honour upon them. And they are de- 
fcribed, , : : . 

1. By the fmallnefs of their number, a Jew, The flock 
of Chrift is little, compared with the world, " Many be 
*' called, but few chofen :" But the comparifon here is 
with the members of this church, the. generality of whom| 
were fadly declined, only here and there one, through 
grace, had maintained a good confcience, whom the Lord 
diftinguifties from the reft. Numbers are no certain note 
of truth, jand the fmalleft part of a divided fociety may 
appear to he right ; however, as we fhall prefently fee, 
the character of the faithful, when religion is on the de- 
cline, is hi proportion to the number of thofe who are die- 
feaed. 

2. Their purity is another part of the defcription, 
" which have not defiled their garments.'' The allufion 
is obvious. Garments are what men inveft themfelves 
with, and in which they appear according to their rank 
and condition : Spiritually taken, they are the religious 
habit and courfe of nominal chriftians, in the fight of God, 
angels and men. Thus we read, Ifa. Ixi. lo. of the *^ gar- 
*' ments «f falvation, and the robe of rightepufnefs." 
Thefe, at leaft the latter of thefe, is no other than the 
righteoufnefs of God, which is by the faith of Jefus Chrift 
with which all true believers are clothed and adorned 
unto their compleat and everlafting juftification ; but here 
jt feems principally, if not folely intended, oi the profei« 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 301- 

fioiT and behaviour of thofe honorable difciples, and points 
to their order, the ftedfaftnefs of their faith, and their 
holy converfation : Thus holy Job declares, in vindica- 
tion, of liis charader, chap. xxix. 14. *' I put on righte- 
*'/ qufnefs and it clothed me ; my judgment was as a robe 
".)a.nd a diadem*' In like manner thefe upright fouls were 
not turned from the fimplicity of the gofpel, nor tainted 
with the common pollutions, but held faft, having nobly 
withftood the prevailing corruptions, and kept themfelves 
clean, " hating even the garment fpotted with the flelli,'* 
like the virgins mentioned. Rev. xiv. 4. who had *' not 
" defiled themfelves with women.'' Thefe, I fay, as chafte 
virgins efpoufed to Chrift, were free from the fpots by 
which many had difgraced themfelves and his name ; nou 
that we are to fuppofe they had no defe£li». to lament^ or 
were totally free from occafional error : it is not faid that 
tlieir garments were not defiled, but that they had "not 
*' defiled their garments.** Whether the Reader fees a 
real difference between thefe forms of expreflSon or not, 
I prefume he will readily admit, that this account fliews 
they had not wilfully corrupted themfelves, butpreferved 
their integrity, and bore ateftiraany, atleaft in their prac- 
tice, againft the diforder and licentioufnefs which prevail- 
ed in the church, and had reduced her to fo threatning a 
condition. Thus they were without guile before God, 
and free froin the general charge. And, 

3. The integrity of thefe worthy perfons is further 
jlluftrated, by a glance on the exceeding degeneracy of 
the people with whom they flood connected, even in Sar- 
dis. The particle is juftly fupplied ; it being wonderful 
indeed that any fhould be clean in fo degenerate a com- 
pany, among whom the life and power of religion was in 
a manner extinct J yet this was the fa£l, notwithftandlng 
the community was declining apace, and even nigh to a 
diffolution, through the depravity of her members, there 
was a number, though but few, who were enabled to re- 
tain a fpirit and conduct becoming their holy profeihon, 
uith whom the Lord was well-pleafed. 



3<32.; LECTURES^ ON THE EPISTLE 

■ Tills report is- made to die angel or ttimirter of tfte^ 
eliurch; '*■ Thou 'haft- a few names," See. I apprehend, not>- 
fa- mucH'tO'infbrm him,- for can'icbe fuppofed that thefet- 
fingiilar p^-ofeffor^ we*^ imk-nown to their paftbr ?' Not '■ 
without highly iiRpes^e^iftig^his eharatSter. FormaUty aitd' 
atid fin in apeopi'e ^^' *ai fnar^' to their minifter; anid' 
When errors^ and; diit!>'rcler>s prevail^ itrequires- peculiar 
fortitude. and= grade t-6 withstand the' tidfe of corruption, 
fdas not in anj^degreetoeonni've at'; fome evil^ anddeferve 
reproof J but though I would" hot- inftnuate that' paftors 
are never, or even i'eldom' to blarney the* contrary of which 
is notorious, nor would L cover or ex'tenui^te^ their faults, ' 
which are more heinous than the errors of perfons in a 
priv^ate capacity ; yet, a«^ formerly hinted, it; doth not 
appear that tht^minifter at Sardis is particularly charged ; 
itfeems therefore natural, in char-ity^ to rank him among 
tfiofe faithful fervants of the Lord' who are grieved to 
tfte heart to fee things dying under their hands: In the' 
like- forrowful cafe we fee fome-have been overwhelmed, 
they have dwelt on the d^^elenfions and apoft&cies ofthe^ 
innltitude.^ and overlooked^ tliei exceptions there are from 
t1ie general decay, till they have- almoft- defpaired of a' 
recovery: Thus Elias thought he was alone^ and that 
truereligion would' expire with his life, when at the fame 
fimea very large number were referved from- the idolatry 
of the times. And this notice- from- the- Loi\i to his- fer- 
vant at Sardis feems to be to comfort him, and alfo to in- 
fpire him with courage to attempt a reformation : Be 
thatis may,.inthis inft^nce- we fee, and it may juflly be 
admired^ that the- exalted Saviour, the great and chief 
Shepherd, graciouily-llioops fr-om his throne^ to give his un- 
der-keeper an account of the' ttare of his flock, before- 
whom, as tlieir judge, bo t-h heand' his backlliding people 
were lliortly to appear. • 

Now the recomper.ce infured thefe upright difciples, 
is not any prefent or temporary reward, but-an honor and 
happinefs. far exceeding every rhingto be enjoyed in this 
world, and is couched^ in t-he- following- term«, " They 
** lliail walk with me in white." Some refpeclable wri- 



TO THE Ciijt^RGH AT SA?J)I5. 303 

ters* have thought that this of walhiiig.wi(,h, or hefoKe 
God, is peculiar to a.pleafmg adminiftration of an office: 
Thus did Enoch as a prophet, and Noah as a, preacher .of 
righteoufnefs. And 1 Sam. ii. 30. the Lord faith unto 
Eli, *' I fatd indeed, that thy.houfe, and.the,hDufe'oLthy 
" father, fi:i<iuld walk before me .for ever ;" i. e, as ^- 
pears froni the context, in .the office erf a .prieft : Eut, 
with fubmilTion, the phrafe is. extended to the beha\aoar 
or walk of the faithful in i a private capacity. Abraham, 
though poffeffed of a jpromife tb;u biiS feed ihould be mul- 
tiphed, feems.not inveikd, properly (peaking, with an of- 
fice when the Lord faidunto him, '' Walk before me, awl 
" be thou perfed," Gen. xvii. i. However, it is cer- 
tain that ■*' to w^ilik humbly wi[th thy God," Mic. vL 8. 
is not confined to.perfons of a, public chara<5ler, but that it 
■jDecomes every chriftainto " walk worthy of the Lord un- 
/' to all well-pleafing,". according to Col. i. 10. and other 
pafTciges in the New-Tellament, where the fame idea is 
conveyed. In this fenfe.they who defile not their garments, 
rwaik befq^^e God witrh anrholy awe of his divine majeliy 
.and.;prefence, and an hatred of iin ; .and in keeping his com- 
.mandments they are. often indulged v/iththat fweet com- 
,njunion, and thofe manifeftations of his love, which, great- 
ly over-balance every-trial they meet -with; but the re- 
j\vard here intended is nianifeill}/. future.; andaccordingly 
It is laid .ou t in terms, frequently ufed by . the . Holy -Gh oft,, 
to fet forth the :ble (Ted nefs of the righteous in the world 
•to come, which it may be ufeful to -cpnli^er: And, 

I. It is laid " they ill all rjjalk.'' In natural walking the 
powers of the body rare .exercifed, and the fubjed makes a 
delightful progreffion to the end he is purfuing : it denotes 
life ilrength, freedom. and joy, and mod fitly reprefents 
their happinels who.-are entered into life, free from weak- 
nefs and iin, and fiiled -with j^y in the .pi^efence of God : 
This agrees -with Lfa. xxxv. 10. The redeemed iliall walk 
there. And again, chap. Ivii. 2. it is faid of good in en 
departed, that " they .reil in their beds, each one walking 

'"■ Aynfvwrth on Ger. v. :i4. and vi. 9 



304 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

*• in his uprightnefs." And further it is affirmed, Rav, 
xxi. 2i4. that " the nations of them which are faved fhall 
•• walk in the light of the heavenly city/' Again, 

2. To be ivitb God or with Chrift ; i. e. in their im- 
mediate prefence, is another known defcription of the 
fviints in paradife. Thus in Phil. i. 23. Paul declares his 
delire " to depart and to be with Chrift." And our Savi- 
our in John • xvii. 24. prays to the Father, faying, " I will 
*' that thofe whom thou haft given me be with me where 
*' I am ;'' namely, in heaven, " that they may behold my 
« glory.'' And, 

3. This honor of the faithful is ftill more ftrongly ex- 
prefledby their walking with Jefus in tvbzte ; this will oc- 
cur in afubfequent ledure, but it is needful to touch on it 
here. White is an emblem of purity and glory : Thus ap- 
peared the angel that rolled back the ftone from the fe- 
pulchre ; we are told, that "his raiment was white as 
" fnow." In like manner when our Lord was transfigured 
"on the mount, his vefture was white as light, a brightnefs 
anore refplendent than the meridian fun. It may allude 
to the garments of the priefts, who were dreffed in white 
linen, to fignify their confecration and acceptance with 
the Lord, who is holy, or rather to the white robes which 
conquerors anciently wore in their triumphal proceffions ; 
both ideas are fuited to the chara(^er of the faithful " who 
" overcome through the blood of the Lamb, being made 
" kings and priefts unto God, and his Father," Rev. i. 
6. In a word, if it be enquired, when this will come to 
pafs ? No doubt it will commence in a degree in the fe- 
parate ftate of the righteous, but the reference is more di- 
re£lly to the fecoiid appeai'ance of Chrift, even to that 
grand proceftion of Jefus in the day of his revelation from 
heaven, when he fliall be glorified in his faints, and admir- 
ed in all them that believe ; or rathi^r it terminates in the 
ultimate glory of the redeemed, which ftiall be everlafting. 
Thus each member of the promiftbry fentence correfponds 
with the language of fcripture, when it points out the fu- 
ture glory of the faints, and together they yield a full and 






-A ■ bc^ 



TO^ tkE CHURCH At ^A^lrii 30I 



t1^o(| wjio r^aint^ip'^^ and.,hpld oa,t to thgfi 



fpJry 

; ,froijirii3vnc3 
It remains to cpnfider th^ propriety or fitnefs t>f cdti*' 
ferring this- honor on thefe.hbly nien, ^nd the reafon affiga-* 
cdis no otiier than this^.," for they are worthy." Nq>^5 
inethiiiks the fmcere believer is ready : to blii fli at this/ 
gracious. e.%pr,efliptn : Can worthinefs bejuftly afcribed ta 
afinfld creature, -redeenied by the blood of Jefus ? O my.; 
foul, what is thy 'faith, or yi^hat ar^ thy works? Suppo,C<$[ 
thou haft: not deh^^d thy garments, is it m^re than beQanl^; 
thee? Thou art then an unprofitable fervent, and ftili 
Jliore indebted to the fovereign mercy, and ppwerof God^ 
by whom thou haft ftood, and thy boafting is for ever ex- 
cluded. In this manner will the pureil faint upon earthy 
on the apprehenfion of there being any glory attributed to> 
him, hovyever comparatively perfed Jiis y^^prks, in point og 
integrity, check the firft rifingthought of meritin himfelf^ 
and with- unfeigned humiljty and gratitude declare : *' Byi 
tne grace of God I am what I am." But the truth is,t.hafc3 
no fuch worthinefa is intended. The labourer, we fay iSi 
worthy of hi5 hire; > He' hatH earned his wage^, and it is 
his juft due : alfo^the, wricked ri^hteoufly ; fufFer the ven- 
geance of the Almighty, .they ftri£lly and properly deferve^ 
the puhifljment they endure, Kom. i. 3:4. but worthinefs^ 
in this fenfe cannot, be afcribed to the heirs, of falvatipB? 
by grace. ij 

Nor will it iuiEce toffay thatbqlievers are graciouflyr 
accepted through the , merits of \Chr'i ft ;.^do,ubtlefs th^ 
work which the Redeemer finiflied pn.hi^ crofs, when he 
made compleat atonement for fm, is the deferving caufe 
of his people's fruition of glory, but this does not come up 
to-tlie terms in the text, for it exprefsly declares that they 
are- 'worthy ; thefe very perfons are the real, proper and 
immediate fubje6ls of this worthinefs, whatever it be. To 
clear up this point we muft note, that a perfon may be 
worthy in rcfpeft of merit or meetnef/s, now,, as already 



3o6 LECTUIlf.?, ON^TWE, JEPISTLE 

hinted, a worthlnefs of merit is difclaimed by the chriftian, 
nor can it be decently afcribed to him in relation to his 
ftitu re inheritance. All the works and felf-denial which 
attend the ftrideft profeflion of godlinefs, or the holieft 
converfation, however diftinguiQiing, exalted or valuable 
in its place, weighs not a fmgle grain towards the king- 
dom of heaven. A title to glory lies in the donation of 
the Father and in the purchafe of his Son, in and with 
whom the faints become heirs ; it follows that thefe dif- 
ciples are declared worthy in refped of their meetnefs for 
glory to come, which appeared in their faith and evange- 
lical obedience. Thus the apoftle is/to be underftood 
' \Vhen he tells the aifflicled TheiTaloniatis; ^ epiftle i. 5. 
ttjat their tribulations were with a v^ew to their being 
counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which they 
alfo fufFered. And again, ver. ii. he faith, " We pray 
*> always for you, that God would count you worthy of 
" this calling." But how ? by reckoning their fufFerings, 
however great, the meritorious caufe of their enjoying this 
kingdom? God forbid we fliould thus attempt to rob the 
Redeemer of his glory, in whbfe obedience unto death 
alone this caufe is to be found'.' How then? The anfwer 
foUov/s : " And fulfil all the good pleafure of his goodnefs, 
** and the Work of faith with power." This counting them, 
worthy, therefore, is no other than to finilh the good 
work begiin in them, and thereby compleat the evidence 
of their efFe£lual calling, that their real character as faints 
may be manifefti By this divine operation and influencef,]- 
the faithful perfevere, and even, if required, will fefift un» 
to blood ; and their fufFerings for righteoufnefs fake (hall 
manifeftthat they are ofthofeto whom the promile is giv- 
en* Now this is the fenfe in which thefe men of Sardii' 
are faid to be worthy, i e. they appeared by their purity 
in do6lrine and life, amidll abounding corruption, to be ho- 
ly perfons^ the fubjefts of like precious faith with Gpd'S'^ 
elecSt, and confequently Abraham's feed, and heirs accord- ' 
ing to the promife. Thus in the laft and great day tile ' 
righteous Judge will count, i. e. having compleated his 
work in feis^ faints, he will fhew them to be worthy ; their 
works of holinefs (hall prove that they are his diiciples in- 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 36?^ 

deed, to the glory ol'liis name, and the (hame of thofe who 
accufe them. 

Thus even in Sardis, when the church in that city was 
formal and lifelefs, and her members in general fadly 
corrupted, infomuch that her things were dying away, 
there was a remnant of exeellent perfons^ who, by the 
grace of God^ efcaped the common pollution, and retained 
their integrity; of thefe the Lord mofl: gracipufly conde-.^ 
fcends to bear witnefs unto his fervant, their paftox» pro-, 
nouncing them holy, and worthy, or meet for the reward 
of the inheritance, and accordingly declares, that, having 
Willied their courfe and overcome, they fliould walk with 
hjm in white, or in robes of immortality and light. So. 
tl^en, lilye Enoch before he was tranllated, thefe worthies,, 
evein in the prefent ftate, obtain this witnefs that , they 
pleafed God, which is at once a pledge and vindication oi, 
their being admitted to the glories of his eyerlafting king- 
dom. ,;.,.:;• -:,.•,.' / .. 

^3F'rorhi tlits example, we learn that ; apoftacy proceeds 
from corruption. It is owing to the, indulgence of the 
llefh, that men turn afide from the ways of the Lord. If^ 
the fkirts of thofe whofe works are , not perfed are ex-- 
pofed, it will be found that they themfelves are unclean, 
and thefource of their flumber and hypocrify will appear. 
The members of the natural body are not deficient or ufe- 
lefs, but through fome prevailing diibrder, although for 
a feafon it may not be difcerned : In like manner, how-, 
ever awhile, church-members may cover their defefts with 
deceitful pretences, it generally turns out that they are 
cold and unprofitable through a fecret allowance of fin ; 
fome error or lull is harboui^ed, which, like a worm at the 
root, eats out their ftrength. Hence they are flothful 
and partial, as it is written, " Men love not the truth, 

" becaufe they have plcafure in unrighteoufn^s ;'' 

*' wherefore he faith, Awake thou that fleepe{!^nd arife 
** from the dead, and Chrift (liall give thee light," Eph. v. 
14. An alarm occafioned by the prefumption of fome of 
whom it is faid, <' It is a Ihame even to fpeak of thcic 



3,o8 I^ECTUR^S OJ^ .JHE EPISTI.E 

•' things .which are dqne of them in l^epret." Accordingly 
fome error, in principle or' praiSice, lie's at the bottom of 
an unfruitful behaviour under a profeffion of Veligfon, and^ 
unlefs the old le.ayen is purged out, the hypocrite will in- 
creafe unto more ungodlinefs, till his iniquity is Full.; and 
his end'is deftruvaioW;^* V:"' '■;'' ^^^-^ '^--^;;-; 
At Sardisij asinevery city, thef6 was ]bu tone •, gofpel- 
church, which, coDfidering the popularity' of the placed 
and the fuccefs Which had attended the preaching of t!ie. 
W'ord, muft be flippofed very large, andwhen liicha com- 
munity' became depraved iri-the degree feprefented, the 
danger was great, yet a few are preferved. Thus in tha 
•worft of umes, theLordhath a people that fear him. Tri.- 
tlie old world, when yiolehce covered the earth, Noao^ 
was righteous in his fight ; aifo in Sodom pious Lot dwelt f 
a;nd, what faith the Lord to Elias, whein he thought hlni- 
felf alohe]* as referred to before :"<^ riiavereferyed fevea* 
"-thoufand that have not bo Wed the knee toBaaf.^^ 'S^o^i>^ 
the days of Malachi, when facrilege and infidelity abouria-^ 
cd in Ifrael, we fhall findperfons who thought on the name 
of the Lord; and in ages fmce, particularly when an n-^ 
chrift fpi'ead through the nations, and the World wandered^ 
after the beaft, wit'tiefles arofe who are famed in hiftoty 
for the noble teftimohy they bore to the truth, through 
fufferings,. and even at the expense of their' bloM.^ '/ 

Kn^ fhall the righteous W ^^rfobked cyt' fbi^^ttenf . 
Par be it; Jefus remembers thefe.few names in l^ardis ; he 
•will ever be mindful of thofe who cleave to him, when 
others forfake him. The Lord is a God of judgment^' 
and feparates the precious from the vile. In an evil time ' 
the faithful may lie in obfcurity ; they may be driven into* 
corners, or obliged to conceal themfelves^ but the eye of 
the Lord is on them who figh and cry for the prevailing 
abominations, and he will certainly mark them in love ; 
for a feafon they may be in heavinefs, but their forrows 
in the end fhall turn to their unfpeakable advantage ; in 
the mean time their fingular purity and zeal (bines the 
brightcfj'TbJritfafonof the darknefs of franfgreflbrs with 



whpm rtb&y are. co-temporavy ^ beildes fuch ^rcrfrequently 
taken rrom the -evil to come, or hid in the day of God's 
an^er, or jc may be they are wonderfully j:)re'ferved iii tiie 
m1gft of his jiidgmenl'S;; l)Ut if he has allotte.d them to 
fall with the wricked m a 'general deftru^lion. Which, is 
fqmetiri-n-fs the cafej;^they are gathered to himfelf, and his 

XVhat tnen is the lois or IRame whY^h.jTiay attencl tjiofe 
v/ho clea'^'e to the Lord, compared with tneir reward? 
Holinefs^nd, zeal ill a.rde'geqerate-age, when a lifelefs pro- 
femqn is* current:,- will expofe a m^n to. conternpt ; and ill- 
vyiil;: the ungodfy^wifl, turn and on every oc- 

ca^on reprqa^Ti hihi/^he .will be^.furi? to nieet with the re- 
{pntment of thofe, Vt'Jio are coatent with' k name; .this, 
J9ined to ; Satin''s temptations, aqd tli^ conflicfts he has 
Wrth hi^own fleiji^; together with his concern for the ho- 
nor of 'religion, and in. a Wjord, what he feels • for thofe 
whofe^God is their belly? and who are haftening to ruin, 
may 'at JDrefent dillrets. him, but a joyful harvelt of the 
tears which l}e fow^'to the Spirit is infured him, he (hall 
remember his forrows as waters that pafs away, and find 
t)iat reckoning juft, that '* the fufFerings of this prefent 
'*y^nie are not worthy to be compared with th« gl^ry 
'^'■that fliall be revealed, in the faints." •lir^ I'r 

But fball ey^ry on^,,whp is advanced to the kingdom of 
glory, hereafter appear a meet fubjecV ? fliall his works be 
fpiind perfect, and prove his faith and true holincfs in the 
day of revelation ? Then the divine purity and.jullice, 
and every moral perfeftion of Deity, will be vindicated 
and honored, in crowning the faints with immortality and 
life ; but, what will become of the licentious profeHor, 
who prefumes on his religious characler, and holds the 
truth in unrighteoufnefs. Would to God there were 
none of this appearance ! But alas, the fpois which are 
feeri oh the garments of fome who call themfelves chrill- 
ians ! How are they wandering from God, and making 
provifion for the flefli, to the grief of thofe with whom 
they are in communion, while the enemy blafphemes ! 



310 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

Such may have a name that they live, but in the fight of 
God and good men they are dead ; they live in the pride 
and pleafure of life, and are dead while they live ; yet 
they hope to be faved, and it highly offends them to quef- 
tion their ftate. Fatal delufion ; unlefs they repent I — 
The Lord convince fuch men of their folly and deceit, 
left, overtaken as by a thief in the night, they fall fhort 
of the heaven they boaft^ and are covered with {hame and 
everlafting contempt. 

' AnS now, chriftian Reader, doll thou expedite join 
in the illuftrious proceiTion, and to walk in white with the 
Lord at his coming ? doft thou look for this reward and 
for a place among the faints in the regions of light i then 
hate and fhun the appearance of evil : let unbelievers and 
hypocrites, who have no hope or defire of this blefled 
inheritance, live as they lift; their diforders andlicenti- 
oufnefs fuit their charader and end; but thoii art, a can- 
didate for glory and honor; the leaft ftain of fin is a dif- 
grace to thy profeffion. In the pr6fpe£l of triumph with 
Chrift, at his appearance and kingdom, the believer is 
proof againft every temptation to lukewarmnefs and apof- 
tacy ; it will infpire his foul with refolution and courage 
in a feafon of trial, and efpecially when he attends to the 
anJLiiating afliirance which follows : " He that overcom- 
*' etb, the fame fliall be clothed in white raiment ; and 
*' I will not bl@t put his name out of the book of life, 
** but I will confefs his name before my Father, and be- 
*' fore his angels i*' but this will be the fubjc£l of another 
le£lure. 



LECTURE 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. cjit 



LECTURE XXV. 



ne honors decreed the believer in the day of Christ ; 
being a description of his white raiment^ the book 
of life, and likewise vihat is implied in not having 
his .name blotted out of that book. 



TH E plati on which all the epiftles to the churches 
in Afia are formed, among other articles, contains 
a promife to him that overcometh ; and in the ledure im- 
mediately preceeding, we have feen that a glorious reward 
is laid up for the righteous, an affurance of which is re- 
peated with enlargement in the following proclamation, 
the fubje<ft of our prefent difcourfe : " He that overcom- 
*^. eth, the fame ftiall be clothed in white raiment ; and I 
*^ will not blot out his name out of the book of life ; but I 
" will confefs his name before my Father and before his 
*^' angels.*' A declaration from the throne in the heavens, 
not only to animate the few whofe garments were clean, 
but like wife for the encouragement of every convinced 
backflider to repent, in confidence of pardon and life : So 
wonderful is the patience and mercy of God. And the 
man who can be impenitent under this bleffed report, is 
manifeftly perverfe, and will in the end ftand felf con- 
demned, and juftly perilh with thei workers of iniquity. 

The promife is exceeding punftual with refpei^ to its 
objeft. liey the fame, that very identical peribn, under 
whatever age, chara^ler, or circumftances he may fight the 
good fight, dial] be clothed with honor and glory. Ksncc 



312 LECTURgS" oi* ^f HS^ fe?i^f ligr 

tiote by "the wa'y,*t1i£tt Iheeye of tfte Lord is on each no- 
minal chriftian, and that he will not mifapply the rewards 
©f his grace. 

Faith is a warfare, apd every believer cpracs under the 
notion of a foldier : he may not be an officer, who is fta- 
tioned in the front, and thereby more particularly expofed 
to the fire of the enemy ; but I fay every chriftian is a 
foldier, under theCaptain of (aLvatiorv THis.iAthe gen- 
eral charafter of the faithful •. they are dl"' fWbrdfmen, and 
fliQuld be expert in this war, that fubduing- their eoeirt'ies 
they may triumph at laft. Thus wcj have, the fituati:9n, 
bufinefs and end of the believer in this, militant ftate, he is 
one that overcometh. To overc^m^, fdppofes povv'gr'Ful 
and dangerous oppofition ; it carries in it an adual and 
toilfome confli6l, confifts with many fears, and even tem- 
porary foils ; it requires a refolute. perfeverance^^^As 
perfe^ed in final vidory. Our text, there fot-e, is as a 
trumpet blown in the 'rnidflf'of an eiigagement, while-ttie 
enemy is pufti-ing, and- threatens, that tbebeliever may be 
infpired with courage, and conquer. 

The powers againfi: whom the chriftian is en gaged,' are;; 
known to be the world, the fiefli and the devil ; but,.al'as,^ 
in appearance thiikiiowledge is often rhere Ipeculafibn, 
Can a juft ideaof thefe fubtle and vigilant forces, admit 
of the wanton and carelefs mariner which prevails in the 
coridu6l of many ?" Surely, if we really apprehended dan- 
ger' from fo' many quarters we ftiould be more bii: oiir 
guard. Thefe enemies are uncertain '^rid various in, their 
manner, but there is no place, charadler, orcircumftances, 
in civil' or religious life, fecure from their attempt to in- 
jure and deftroy. No'w the trial is more fenfible from one 
of thefe parties, and then from another^ and frequently 
they are both to be difcerned in tl^ -aittack ; h'ow^vei*, 
their intereft is united, they arefubfervient to each otl^er, 
and their vrew is the fame ; to cpnquer'and ruiii. fiimoft 
temptations Satan is the principal, the flelh gives occafionj 
and the world affords the materials. . In a word, th^''^ ^^ 
anendlefs change in the meafures taken oy thefe Teftlefs 



\ 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 313 

acl\rerfar*ies,,as permitted, according to the different fiti^a- 
'tion of the belieAzer, or fiate of the vifible church in j-jis 
' day. Sometimes Satan ranges as a rparing lion,, he comes 
. ^down,,as in the days of perfecution, i Pet. v. 8. At ano- 
ther time, hkeaferpent, as when he enticed mother Eve, 
he corrupts in a, more imperceptible,. but not.lefs effectual 
manner: Then his artillery are not deprivation of goods, 
exile, fire and fword, but by herifies, delufions, ami fnares 
of this world, of which he is the.god; j-ue infiniiates and 
deceives men into lukewarmnels and diibrder, till t^e 
example of formal profefTors are more than fufficient to 
anfwer his end. And thus it often comes to pq-fs, as^at 
Sardis, that a people have a name that they live, v.^hen, 
alas, in truth they are dead, and are in danger of beij^g 
overtaken in judgment by an offended God, who is jealoys 
of his glory, and whofe anger is more to be dreaded, than 
all the malice and power of men or devils, who would 
turn us afidc from his ways. Whether there are any 
- fymptoms of the like condition on the Proteftant churches, 
at home or abroad, in the prqfent day, the Reader will 
judge ; But when this is the cafe, the upright are under 
peculiar temptations, from the number of apoftates, iqme 
of whom may have been famous for their fepming knowf- 
ledge and ^eal for religion : They are likewife in danger 
from the fpecious fhew of time-ferving men, who often 
make a found of liberty, charity, goodhefs and virtue, but 
at the fame tinie they are, full of all iubtlety and mifchiff 
to captivate men from the faith, experience and order of 
the gofpel. Moreover, the ill treatment which the faith- 
ful fometimes meet with for their ftedfaftne is, by thofb 
"who fall in v/ith the corruption of the times, the burthen 
/laid on them, through the deficiency of others, with whom 
they are conne(^ed. in fociety, their fears of being over- 
come, and it may be of a total diffolution of the church in 
the place where they, dwell ; thefe, and other things that 
time would fail to mention, .are a fore trial to them who 
love God, in a day of general, declenlion. *^ Blefled i^ he 
** that ehdureth to the end: He that oyercometh, the 
" fame fliall be clothed in white raiment ; and I will not 

<iq •■ 



314 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

" blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will 
" cohfefs his name before ray Father and before his an- 
" gels." A glorious promife, which Jefus himfelf ftands 
engaged to fulfil I It is laid out in three diftin£l branches ; 
they correfpohd with each other, and together yield a moft 
animating profpe^l, of the honor of the faints, at the com- 
ing of the Lord. The two firft are highly figurative, and 
are explained by the laft, which runs in plain language. 

I. It is declared, that the victorious faint "fliallbe 
" clothed in white raiment." The fame metaphor oc- 
curred in the foregoing le6lure, in which it was noted, 
that 'white is an emblem of purity, glory, conqueft and joy. 
Trhus, Rev. XV. 6. *' the angels came out of the temple 
" with the vials of wrath, clothed in pure and white 
" linen," in token of their holinefs and fplendor. For 
the fame reafon, chap. iv. 4. '' the four and twenty elders 
" fit round about the throne clothed in white raiment, 
" with crownsof gold on their heads." And further, as 
hinted, it was the ancient cuftom to make triumphal prc- 
celfion in white : To which agrees. Rev. vi. 2. The Cap- 
tairi of falvation, the Lord of ho{ls,is beheld "on a white 
" horfe, with a bow in his hand, when a crown was given 
'' him, on which he went forth conquering and to conquer." 
And in chap. xix. 14. the armies that followed him are 
alfo inverted in white. Once more, to the fame purpofe 
alfo is chap. vii. 11. "John beheld, and lo, a multitude 
" flood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed 
'* with white robes, and palms in their hands ;" which is 
another eftabliflied token of vi6lory. Some indeed con- 
fine this to the martyrs, who, on account of their fufiJer- 
ings for Chrift, may be faid to " have wafiied their robes, 
*' and made them white in the blood of the Lamb," and 
ftile it the enfign of martyrs; but, with fubmiflion, how- 
ever the phrafe may be peculiarly adapted to thpfe who 
fealed the teftiraony of Jefus with their blood, it is not 
confined to them; there is indeed a noble army of wit' 
neffes to the truth, who iliine in the kingdom of glory, 
and whofe crowns may be of fingular luftre, but the vifioji 
feems rather to comprehend all the redeemed who have 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 315 

attained the heavenly Hate. However, there is ariother 
way of being wafhed in the blood of the Lamb, befides 
that of martyrdom, and without which even the martyrs 
themfelves could not ftand before God in his temple above j 
and it is certain, tha^ the promifc under confideration 
hath refpeft to the faithful, whofe fufFerings and trials 
arofe from a different quarter than that of perfecution. 

If one ftate is intended by the whole of the promife, 
which will fcarce be denied, it cannot terminate in any 
future period of the church on earth, as fome are of opini- 
on ; the finiiliing claufe manifeftly refers to the day of 
revelation, when the faints Ihall appear with their illuf- 
trious Head in a glorious manner, i. As in veiled with 
the robe of righteoufnefs brought in by the Mefliah, when 
he made reconciliation for iniquity by his obedience to 
the death of the crofs. This is fitly compared to white 
raiment, Rev. iii. 18. for its infinite purity and ineffable 
glory, being the righteoufnefs of a divine perfon, though 
wrought in and by the human nature, which he affumed, 
in-order to redeem us. This fpotlefs robe is now upon 
cWry one that believeth, Rom. iii. 22. in which he (lands 
juftified, and perfeftly comely in the fight of God, like 
Jofliua the prieft, Zech. iii. 4. his iniquity is paffed away, 
and he is clothed with change of raimfent, no charge can 
lie againft him, Rorn. viii. 1. Thus t-he church is de- 
fcribed ; " Her clothing is of wrouglvt gold, maffy and 
'' bright," Pfalra xlv. 13. And fometrmes the chriftian 
can rejoice in his God, beholding himfelf herein decked 
as a priell, and adorned as a bride with her jewels ; yet 
this is not always the cafe, a believer may be in the dark 
and doubt his own ftate, but when Jefus is revealed from 
heaven, his faints (liall be arrayed in this garment of fal- 
vation, and lliall find themfelves honorably acquitted in 
the prefence of all. But, 2. Another branch of hi* g^o^Y 
will be the beauty of holinefs : " The King's daughter 
" is likewite all glorious v,/ithin." A perfeflion in holinefs 
is laid up in the hope of the. gofpel ; it is the earneft defire 
and expectation of every true chriftian, and towards which 
•fome make greater advances in the prefent ftate than 



^^ LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

others ; at" beft- he Is deficient, but in the future world 
his fpirit is made perfed; and when he comes with his 
§avioarfrom heaven, his whole fpirit, feul and body will 
b^e wholly fanftified, he (hall appear blamelefs and without 
fault: fothat his righteoufnefs in this fenfe will break forth . 
as the light, the fplendor of which will cover his malici- 
ous accufers with (hame atthe refurreclion. For, 3. The . 
chriftian will be clothed with white in refped of his glori- 
fied body. We have feen the raiment of Jefas on the 
mount was white as light ; a figure and earneft of his- 
future glory, when rifen from the dead ; and to this wet 
know his faints will be conformed, Rom. viiii 29. Phil, iiu, 
31. "for wefhall fee him as he is," i John iii. 2. Of this- 
bleffed'hope, the refurredion of Jefus is an infallible pledge,^ 
I Cor. XV. Now the chriftian may be faid to be clothed- 
with vile raiment in reipe6l of his fmful and mortal body, 
but when it is fafliioned like that in which his Saviour fits, 
at the right hand of God, it will be an efTential part of his. 
glory. Finally, The luftre of each believer will, I ap-. 
pirehend, greatly arife from his vifible union in the church, 
unto Jefus the head, and to every member of his glorious; 
and myftical body; who will then appear in their brighteft 
apparel before the Father and his angels; then v/ill the 
faint that overcometh, fit down with his Lord in his 
throne, in exceeding white raiment, with all the enfigns 
of vidoryand triumph, and with him enter the kingdom, 
tvhere the wife fball fhine as the fun in the firmament, 
and as the ftars, for ever and ever. Thefe are the ftiin- 
ing garments which the fons of Zion fliail put on in the 
day of the Lord;, they fhall be inverted with the righte- 
oufnefs of their Redeemer, as with gold; the fine linen 
of perfed andfpotlefs purity (hall adorn them, their bodies 
ftiall then be fpirituai and glorious ; and further, they 
fliall be clothed in robes of everlafting light, as members 
of Chrifl and one another, who have gained a total and 
:final vidory over all their enemies, and are crowned with 
honor in the eternal kingdom of the Father. In one word, 
then (hall come to pafs that faying^ "He will beautify the, 
" meek with falvation.** 



TO THE CHURCH- AT SARDIS.- 317 

We now. come to the feconcl branch of the promife.^, 
" And I will not blot out his name out of the book of Hfe.** 
As hinted ah^eady,. thefc are figurative terms, and ihey 
jilainly allude in general to a well-known iuftrument, ia 
which things are noted down to be brought to remem- 
brance asoccafion requires, and {mrticularly to. the ufe of 
books in a court of judicature, where, caufes are tried and, 
deterinined. Our- concern in attending unto them, is to 
avoid every idea unworthy of God, or of divine revelation: 
With this caution I attempt to fliew from the fcrij ture, 
our only fare guide, what may be underftoodby the book 
of life, and the import of this promifc, namely, that Chrift. 
willnot blot out the believer's name out of his book« 

Daniel, chap, vii, relates his vinon of the Father, who 
is- filled^' The Ancient of days j" by whom he faw all 
judgment committed to the Son of man, who alfo appear- 
ed with the clouds of heaven. A grand and awful vifion,. 
which enters deeply into the myftery of God! The pre- 
phet declares, that "the judgment wasfet, and the books 
" were opened.'' The like Icene is prefented to Jolmin 
theifle of.Patmos, Rev. xx. la. "I faw the dead, fmall 
" and great, ftand before God, and the books were open* 
" ed ;" not that we are to fuppofe that, properly fpeaking, 
books will be wanted, or ufedac the tribunal of Chrift ; he 
is- not like earthly judges, unto v/hom, as obierved, the al- 
l-ufion is made, who, with all their fuperior ability, (land 
in need of fuch means to affift and dired them : the infinite 
underftanding-,and other perfe£lions of the divine Jcfus, who 
is judge, forbid this low conception ; before him all things 
are prefent and naked from the end to the beginning ; no 
witnelfesj-no records are needful, no ; he hath ability in 
himfelfto execute his important com-mifrion, and not a 
man iliall have caufe to complain of his judgment, or be 
able to appeal from his bar. yet this is the repeated 
language of fcripture, the books fliall be opened, and 
fomething no doubt is referred toby tins term, which de- 
mands our attention ; we may therefore foberly enquire. 
What arethcfe books ? I anlvver, in general, every ooje^t 
fenfible or fpiritual, which the Holy Ghoit has thoup;ht 



3iS LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

fit,dire6lly or indire<Sly, to prefent to our view under the 
notion of a book, may be juftly numbered among thofe that 
fiiall be opened in the day of judgment; it will therefore 
be pertinent to mention thefe books, at leafl the principal 
ones, in our way to that exprefled in this proraife. And, 
1. In Pftilra xix. univerfal nature is compared to a book, 
which declares and fpeaks as it were in words or lines, the 
exiftence infinite wifdom, and other perfe^lions of its glo- 
rious Author. This extenfive volume contains the vifi- 
ble heavens and earth, with all its amazing furniture and 
innumerable inhabitants ; it lies open for the inftruftion of 
man, and to j$ut him in remembrance, that, beholding the 
eternal power and godhead therein exprefled, he might 
adore and ferve his bounteous Creator and Lord; by this 
the heathen ftand condemned for their idolatry and im- 
moral behaviour, Rom. ii. I. And again, Confcience is 
another thing reprefented as retaining to the view of man 
things paft or prefent ; it generally fpeaks now to every 
jiian ; but if, through the indulgence of fin, the tranfgreflbr 
is feared, or finally impenitent, and this book is flmt, it 
will open at the tribunal of God to his confufion and con- 
demnation for ever. There is likewife the book of fcrip- 
ture ; that folemn guard on the facred writing, Rev. xxii. 
x8. filled the words of the prophecy of this book, is not to 
be confined to that which is commonly called, The book 
of the revelation of St. John the divine, but is to be ex- 
tended to the oracles of God, without any exception. This 
code contains the books of Mofes, the pfalms, and the 
prophets, and likewife the evangelifts, the A£ls, and eve- 
ry epillle of the New-Teftament, out of which thofe ftiall 
be judged who enjoy the benefit of divine revelation. And 
further, we read of the book of the law, I mean the cove- 
nant of works, which whether confidered as written in 
the heart, or exhibited under the difpenfation of Mofes, de- 
mands particular notice ; in this dreadful book every tranf- 
greflbr is written accurfed, Gal. iii. lo. It is a miniftra- 
ticn of condemnation and death to every man who is un- 
der the law, and no doubt this will alfo be opened when 
the judgment is let, v^hen ail that are in it fliall perifli with 
a miferabie deihudion : But, here is another book fliil. 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 319 

which is pointed to in the promife before us, namely, the 
book of life ; this book or roll, we are exprefsly told, will 
be unfolded, and that it will appear diftin<^ from, and after 
all the reft, Rev. xx. 1 2. " And another book was open- 
" ed, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged 
" out of thofe things which were written in the boolf," 
&c, Paul fpeaks of this book, Phil. iv. 3. and men* 
tions fome perfons whofe names he was perfuaded were in 
it. We alfo read, Rev. xiii. 8. of them that worfliipped 
the beaft, that their names are not written in the book of 
life, and the fame is referred to in feveral other places. 
Now, what is intended in divine revelation by this import- 
ant and interefting book ? There is a record in heavea 
concerning the fpirit and conduft of the faithful which is 
ftiled in Mai. iii. 17. a " book of remembrance," and iaid 
to be written before the Lord for them that feared him ; 
of which in a fubfequent lecture. God is not unrighteous 
to forget the love of his faints, but will remember their 
works in the day of account ; but 1 apprehend this book of 
life is no other than the roll of elefting love, or, in other 
words, the decrees of God concerning his chofen and re- 
deemed among men ; in proof of tiiis 1 fliall Ihew that the 
decrees of the Almighty in general, and confequently thofe 
which relate to the counfels of his mercy in particular, are 
mentioned under the idea of a book, and then point out 
fome circumftances revealed concerning the book of life, 
which is thefubje^i in hand. 

Nothing can be more clear than that the fee ret pup- 
pofe or decree of God, in reference to nature and provi- 
dence, are rcprefented under the notion of being written 
in a book. In reference to our natural frame, fays David, 
Pfalm cxxxix. 16. " Thine eyes did fee my fubftance 
" yet being imperfe<Sl, and in thy book all my members 
*' were written," i. e. determined or decreed, before 
thou gaveft tliem aftual exiftence. The fame may beob- 
ferved in refpe£l of providence. Remarkable to this pur- 
pofe is the paffage in Daniel, chap. x. 2,1. to which I 
crave the Reader's attention. The angel fays to the 
prophet, " I will fliew thee that which is noted in thi 



: :p.o LECTURES ON THE EPISTLS 

^^ 

'^ fcripture of trutfi." This agrfees -with the property 
: of a book in, which things are rtoted. Now the scripture 
. i^^rM/Z) in Daniel Gatinot be underftood of the written 

• word in his tiitje, for the prophet was well acquainted 
with all divine revelation then extant ; 'and it is manife'ft 
that the angel refers to an event yet to- come,- and which 
hitherto lay concealed in the bofom of the; Father; here 

' is therefore an undoubted inftance of' the' fecret purpofe 

of God being reprefented as it were noted before him in -a 

' book ; and doth not this prove the do^rine of pred^ftina- 

. lion, which fomemen blafpheme ? Indeed the eledlion of 

• Godlies at the foundation of all the grace eommunieated 
I to any of fallen Adam's race from the beginning, in^ time, 

and in the glories of eternity ; and if thedecrees of God 
may be confidered as a book ^vhi'ch contains all his purpofe 
, and counfel in reference to creation and providence, there 
. is no reafon againft conceiving in like manner of the things 
which concern the flill more wonderful work of redemp- 
tion. Jn this book of life are written all things relating 
to the falvation of the ele6l, and particlilarly the certain 
obje£l;s of that fore knowledge, or lovey \vhieh was dif- 
, played in their appointment to glory by Jefus Ghrift ; nor 
is it llrange that he who recorded the various parts of the 
human body» before it was formed, (liould nof^, as in a 
book before him, all the members of thiat myilical body, 
the church, who Ihall enjoy him for ever ; they are '* vef- 
*' fels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory/' 
Rom. ix. 2,3. Their names are in this book of decree, 
yea, doubtlefs ftri£Hy and literally, as hinted i>efore,* 
the very names by which they are known in this life are 
included, for in fome inftances, as in Joliah and Cyrus, 
proper names of perfons were exprefsly revealed, even 
centuries before they were born; but this is not peculiar 
to the chofen, nor infifted on here; the phrafe is meta- 
phorical, and it is enough that the heirs of falvation are 
marked in this book, and that, being found written therein 
in the day of judgment, they will then take poffeffion of 
the kingdom prepared for thofe whom the^ Father hath 
bleffed, from the foundation of the world, 

• Page 299. 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 32^ 

Nor is fcripture filent or even fparing concerning this 
wonderful and iriterefting volume. We read in Luke x. 
20. that the names of the faints are written in heaven ; 
and again, Heb. «ii. :i3. that the church of the firft-born, 
i. e. the names or perfons that make up that general aflem- 
bly, are written or enrolled in heaven J, which is thouglit 
to allude to the enrollment of the firft-born of literal Ifra- 
el, Numb. iii. 40. However it is well known that the 
ancients wrote on rolls of parchment ; now this roll or 
book muft needs be originally in heaven, lince it exifted 
from eternity, which is the next thing recorded j Rev. 
xvii. 8. the book of life is faid to be " from the foundati- 
*' on of the world." Moreover in chap. xxi. 17. it isftiled 
" the Lamb's book of life." And in chap xiii. 8. thefe 
criterions are united ; where we read of fome whofe names 
are not written in "the book of life, of the Lamb flain 
" from the foundation of the world." A paffage which 
throws a light on this divine code, and agrees with the 
current of prophecy, the general fubjeft of this book is no 
other than the redemption of the ele<3;by the blood of God's 
Son, whofe name is at the head of the chofen, as the firft- 
born among many brethren, predeftinated to the adoption 
of children by him, and co-heirs with him in the heaven- 
ly inheritance, to be enjoyed on the completion of his 
furetiftiip-engagements, one eflential branch of which was 
the expiation of iin. Hence, when the Redeemer appear- 
ed to put away fin by the facrifice of himfelf, he faith, 
" Lo I come (in the Volume or the Book, it is written 
"of me) to do thy will, O God." In the volume, i. e. 
in the head of the book, or roll, it is written of me ; they 
who would confine it to the written word, or to the writ- 
ings of Mofes, which is emphatically ftiled the book^ by 
the Jews, apply this to the firft promife, Gen. iii. 15, 
But, I think this addrefs of the Son to the Father is juftly 
confidered as ultimately referring to the covenant of re- 
demption, in which divine compa£l he folemnly engaged to 
die for the fins of the people ; certain it is that the iuffer- 

f Dr. Owen on the place. 
R r 



3aa LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

ings and death of Ghrift were particularly noted in this 
eternal volume of decrees, for we have feen that he was 
" delivered according to the determinate counfel and 
fore-knowledge of God." From this ancient record, trea- 
fured up in the archives of heaven, previous to the com- 
mencement of time, the book of revelation is drawn, even 
the whole gofpel, which is a record of eternal life, promif- 
ed in Chrift before the world began. So then this idea of 
the decrees of the Almighty is afforded in fcripture, they 
are noted as in a book before him, and the book of life in 
particular appears to be the fame with the Lamb's book 
of life, which is frequently mentioned, and which contains 
the names of the ele£l, and the methods of infinite wifdoni 
in bringing them to glory by the fufferings of Jefus, the 
only begotten of the Father. And furely, my Reader, if 
the divine decrees in general are in fcripture compered to 
a book, as you have feen, ihofe which concern the falvati- 
onof the church in Chrift may well be filled fo, with this 
fmgular and illuftrious epithet, the book of life. 

Now the Lord declares concerning him that overcom- 
eth, faying, " I will not blot out his name out of the 
*' book of life."' It appears, in Rev. xx. 15. that, in the 
judgment to come, whoever is. not found written in the 
book of life, will be caft into the lake of fire ; this part o£ 
thepromife therefore proves that an intereft therein is of the 
Utmoft importance. 1 am fenfible that fome fay, that to 
have a name written in heaven, is only to have a prefent 
right to the inheritance by virtue of our faith, which, they 
fuppofe may be loft. This groundlefs and uncomfortable 
notion is induced froni a prejudice againft the do£lrine of 
"election, and that of the final perfevei ance of the faints, 
butfuch do well toconfider the following .particulars : i. 
That nothing can be more evident than it is from the 
fcripture, that God hath a t.eople chofen unto falvation 
in Chrift Jefus his Son, and that by this line of eleftion 
all fpiritu&l bleflings are directed, and defcend on any of 
the children of men, Eph. i. 4. 3 Thefl. i. 13. 2. A title 
to the inheritance of the faints, though it be received by 
faith, is not grounded in faith, but originally in the dona- 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 3:213 

tion' of the Father ; and the believer's right to the pof- 
fefHon and enjoyment, is derived from the merit of th^ 
Son, through whole blood it defcends to them who fliall 
"be heits of falvation, in a way of righteoufnefs ; this is 
the truth and the glory of the gofpel ; the inheritance is 
b)^ promife,as to Abraham, and the fruition of the faithful 
'in'B'me and eternity is not of debt, but of grace, Rom. v. 
^'f. Eph. i. 14. Befides, 3. It is highly indecent to ima- 
gine that the immutable and eternal God (hall change his 
pQrpofe, or repent of his gift, or, to fpeak freely accord- 
ail^ to the figure of this paffage, that he fliould write any 
m'ln in this book, and then blot him out again, and fo vice 
H'feVfai'as he rifes or falls in the obedience of faith, not to 
•iky, that if the divine Advocate with the Father prevails, 
the faith of his people cannot totally and finally fail, Luke 
*xs:ii.'3^. Again, 4. This ftrange notion contradids thtr 
wdrtl and bath of the moft High, who hath revealed unto 
Xht heirs of falvation the immutability of his counlV^l, 
whrch is their ftrong confolation, Heb. vi, 17, 18. And 
further, this conceit is inconfiftent with a full afTurance of 
hope, and leaves no room for the believer's rejoicing that 
hii name is written in heaven, which our Lord himielf 
recommends to his difciples, Luke x. 20. In a word, this 
imagination dire6lly oppofes the tenor of the gofpel-report, 
which runs in thefe abfolute terms : " He that believeth 
" and 'ishaptized, Ihall be faved." Thus it appears, that 
to afiert that an eled perfon, who is redeemed and called 
according to the purpofe of God, is liable to an erafement 
from the Lamb's book of life, or that the Lord will blot 
him out from thence, is to deny the teftimony of God,, to 
impeach his perfeftions, and to make an attempt on the 
foundations of the righteous ; but we know it is vaiii, for 
the council of the Lord (hall ftand. As to the phrafe in 
this place, that the Lord will not blot out the believers 
name out of the book of life, it is purely figurative, and, 
according to the allufion, amounts to this, and no more, 
namely, that in the end, when this important volume is 
opened, he fliall certainly be found written therein ; or in 
other words, that the man who overcomes will appear in 
the future judgment blefied of the Father, \vho hath given 



a^4 XECTUaES ON THE EPISTLE 

him the vi^lory, and that he fliall accordingly be admitt^ 
to the honors and triumphs of the redeemed in that day : 
And, what more can the chriftian defire ? It is a ^ory 
which will infinitely furpafs his utmoft prefent concep- 
tion. ^ 

The light in which we have confidered thefe meta^Iip- 
rical branches of the promife, is confirmed by the follojw^ 
ing fentence, with which it concludes: " but I .lyill ccfn- 
*'' fefs his name before my Father, and before his angels.*' 
This fettles the period of itsaccompliftiment, na^nely, |;he 
laft and great day, when the Son of man fhall be reveat^<J 
from heaven to judge the world, for it is manifeft from 
Matt. XXV. and many other parts of the New-Teftament, 
that then the righteous will be ow:ned by the Lord ;. and 
in thefe words to confefs his name, being fet in oppofition 
to his blotting it out of the book of life, determines the 
fenfe of that difficult phrafe, for by this antithelis it .ap r 
pears, that when Jefus fays, I will not blot out his r^9.me 
out of the book of life, he intends precifely this^ napaely, 
that he would acknowledge him at his appearance and k|ng- 
4om. To be blotted out of the book of life when the 
judgment is fet, is not to be found written therein. Rev. 
XX. 1 5. and pofitively confifts in being rejefted and dif- 
owned by the Judge, as all the workers of iniquity will 
be ; but, on the contrary, Chrift in this promife engages 
to own and honor his vidorious faint, he will not deny, 
but confefs his name ; he will declare his righteoufnefs, 
own ^ijpi to he a fon, and an heir of falvation and iifi^. 

This is the fum ; every man that holds faft his profefT- 
ion, and overcomes in the end, as the real cliriftian moft 
certainly will,the famefliallhe found written in the Lamb's 
book of life at the day of judgment ; Chrift will then own 
him to be chofen and faithful, on which a glory ftiall be 
revealed upon him anfwerable to a triumph ; yea, far ex- 
ceeding the moft beautiful diadem placed on the head of 
the greateft conqueror or prince of the earth, even a crown 
of glpry which fadeth not away. 



TO TME CHURCH AT SARDIS. 325 

Now, the man rauft be hardened indeed, who can quef«^ 
tion the importance of being in this book, or remain in- 
different whether or not his name is found there. But, 
.Reader, doft thou inquire for thy felf? Look; hath the 
gofpel reached thy heart, and reduced thee to the obedi- 
ence of faith ? doll thou believe on the name of the Son 
of God, and hath his Spirit made the word effeftual to 
thy repentai,vce,.apd brought thee to rely on Jefus as thy. 
Lord and thy God ? Thou mayeft then rejoice that thy 
n^me is written in heaven, i Theff. i. 4. This ground is 
Jure* Think not, enquiring foul, to afcend up to heaven 
^nd there enter the bofom, or fearch the eternal record 
of the Father, it is a fruitlefs attempt, and needlefs ; that 
book will not be fully opened to any creature till the day 
of revelation, but there is a tranfcript fufficient on earth 
to fatisfy him that is conformed to the gofpel of Chrift ; 
deicend into thine heart, and compare thy experience with 
that divine ftandard. Dwells the love of God there ? Is 
his law in thine heart ? Fear not. A confcience purified 
from the love and allowance of fm, andpolTefledofan hope 
in the falvation of God, is an undeniable effect of that 
power of the Holy Ghoft, which leaves no room to doubt 
that the" fubje6l is enrolled in the Lamb's book of life: 
*' Whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called," Rom. 
viii. 30. This is the only fafe rule ; other methods of 
judging thy ftate may amufe but deceive thee ; thy attain- 
ments, thy profeffion, thy name for religion are no certain 
criterions, much lefs doth this knowledge depend on vifi- 
ons and private revelations, imaginary or real, but if the 
defire of thy foul is to the name of the Lord, and to the 
remembrance thereof, thou mayeft fafely conclude that 
his defire is to thee, and that thou art numbered with his 
faints. 

And, art thou acquainted with this power of the gof- 
pel in thy heart, my dear Friend ? Mayeft thou conclude 
that, unworthy as thou art, thy name is written in hea- 
ven ? then let me hitreat thee, dwell much on the glory 
contained in this promife ; be not conformed to this 



3^6 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

world ; and if thou art under fore trials, or fufFering for 
righteoufnefs fake, let the honor and triumph of the faints, 
when Jefus (hall appear, infpire thee with courage ; fliun 
not a teftimony for the Lord in the way of his appoint- 
ment ; remember that not to own Chrift is to deny him, 
and the man who will not confefs him, lets go the promife 
of this glorious reward unto them who obey him ; then 
be not alhamed of the name of thy Saviour in the fight of 
an unbelieving world, or to live up to thy holy profeffion, 
in the midft of the diforders that prevail in afmful gene- 
ration, this is unworthy thy chara£ler and hope j there- 
fore caft off the works of darknefs, and put on the armour 
of light, in a certain expectation of being crowned in the 
day of the Lord, when fliame ihall cover thine enemy, with 
all who forget God and defpife the Lord Jefus Chrift, 
*-*- Behold he comes quickly, and his reward is with him^ 
" to give every man according as his work (liall be," 
Rev, xxii. 12. In a word, attend to the exhortation, which 
Concludes this and the other epiftles to the difciples in 
Afia, " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit 
" faith to the churches." With the opening of which we 
fliall iiniili our defign on this fubjedt. 



LECTURE XXVI. 

The universal obligation of christians to attend to the 
voice of the Spirit* 

TH E epiftle to Sardis clofes, like the reft, with a 
folemn excitation to hearken to the Spirit. *' He 
'^ that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit faith to 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 3^7 

" the churches." A like exhortation is repeated by our 
Lord in the courfe of his miniftry, and is always needful, 
fmce they who are endowed with this diftinguifhing fa- 
culty are liable to be dull, which is a cafe too frequent 
to admit of debate. Some take the paffage as expreflive 
of the confequence of the word being preached, namely, 
that then, the man that hath an ear will certainly hear : 
but experience denies it. 

Our text is a demand on him that hath an ear, who is 
directed to hear what the Spirit faith to the churches ; 
i. e. in his epiftles to the churches in Afia, which no 
doubt is to be regarded by the faithful to the end of the 
world, yet the phrafe will admit of a more comprehen- 
five idea, and may be juftly applied to the whole of divine 
revelation. 

The exiftence, office and operations of the Spirit, are 
fo much the fubjed of fcripture, that one might have 
j^ped for an unity of faith concerning him, but alas, ma- 
ny are the fancies advanced againft the dignity of his per- 
fon and grace. Some nominal chrillians intend by the 
Spirit no other than natural confcience, or the inward 
light of human reafon ; and if this is thy notion, my 
Reader, take heed, left " the light that is in thee be dark- 
** nefs." Others conceive of the Spirit as a mere quality 
in the divine Being, and ftile him the virtue, influence or 
power of God; but thefe are low and falfe conceptions, 
which contradi£l the fcripture-account of the Holy Ghoft, 
"whofe perfonality is fo fully fet forth in thofe facrcd writ- 
ings, that even fome who Humble at the adorable Trinity, 
overborne with the evidence thereof, are compelled to 
confefs it, and have recourfe to a flu pi d and vain imagin- 
ation,* that he is fome eminent angel or created fpirit, 
who on account of his highnefs and intimacy with God, 
was fmgled out and fent from heaven to fan£lify the church; 
this ilrange conceit ihews the wretched Ihift to which men 
are driven, when they leave the teltimony the Lord hatii 

* Dr. Owen on the Spirit, p 46. 



iQ.B . LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

given of himfelf. The perfonality and deity of the Spirit 
are manifeft in the word, in which there are afcribed to 
him, in numberlefs inftances, underftanding, will, power, 
and every thing effential to an intelligent voluntary agent, 
which compleat the idea of a perfon ; and his divinity is 
clear, from his being joined with the Father and the Son, 
with whom he bears record in heaven, i John v. 7. and 
alfo is worfhipped, particularly in baptifm, Matt, xx'viii. 
19. His proper deity and diftin£l perfonality, are clear 
in the inftance of Peter's rebuke of Ananias, who declares 
that he had lied to the Holy Ghoft, and that in fo doing, 
he had not lied unto man, but unto God, Afts v. 3, 4. 
Now this glorious divine Spirit, thus equal in nature with 
the Father and Son, from whom he proceeds, appears to 
be the great Agent of the covenant,- whofe operations are 
needful andeffedual to accomplifti the purpofe of grace in 
the falvation of the chofen, in a fubferviency to which he 
rtoved the prophets, 2 Pet. i. 21. v/ho fpake by him the 
counfel of God. " All fcripture is given by infpiration 
*' of God ;" and this is never afcribed to the Father or 
the Son, but to the Spirit alone, by whom the Son him- 
lelf prophefied when he miniftered on earth, " He whom 
" God fent fpeaketh God*s words, for God givethnot the 
" Spirit by meafure to him," John iii, 34, Thus the Spirit 
is the author of fcripture, when, or by whomfoever it 
was uttered, not excepting the Lord Jefus Chrift, So 
then the whole of divine revelation is his voice, which 
voice is to the churches, for though fome things were ori- 
ginally directed to particular perfons, or to mankind in 
general, yet it was in the church the Spirit fpake by the 
mouth of his fervants, and whatever is written is for the 
unlverfai learning, patience and hope of the faithful, Rom. 
XV. 4. And moreover to the church hath been committed 
thefe oracles of God, as of old to the Jews ; and lince the 
gofpel has been eftabii flied, fcripture, under a wife and 
wonderful providence by the will of God, has not been 
left in private hands j and neither Jews nor Gentiles have 
been unfaithful to their trufl; the former, although fadly 
corrupted and funk fo low, through ignorance and vice, 
that they knew not the voice of Mofes and the prophets, 



to THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. ^^g 

j-ead in their fyriagogue every fabbath, A£ls xiii. 2'j. yet 
it is notorious that they fcrupuloufly adhered to the letter 
of fcripture, and are never charged with altering it in any 
6ne inftance ; and with refpe£l to the chriftian church, 
even the unhappy divifions, and oppofite fentiments of its 
nominal members, have been fubiervient to the keeping 
them entire, each party, having a jealous eye over the 
other ; it has been out of the power of either io alter the 
fcripture in favor of their own particular fcheme. Thus 
what the Spirit faith, he faith to all the churches, even 
to every church, and to each of her members, who are 
therefore every one required to hear ; for facred prophefy 
is not a dead letter, which is now filent and paft, but the 
lively oracles of God, even the word of God which liv- 
eth and abideth for ever, A6ls vii. 38. i Pet. i. ^^3. com- 
pared. 

But what iis this ear with which a man muft or can 
hear the voice of the Spirit ? No doubt, as obferved, it is 
a diflinguilhing talent. If an ear, in the fenfe of this paf- 
fage, was common or univerfal, the form of the text would 
be impertinent. What then is this ear ? The fleftily ear^ 
or organ of natural fenfe, is out of the queftion, being 
common to all who dwell in the body ; befides, the ob- 
ject to be regarded is moral or fpiritual, the faculty 
therefore muft be intellectual. It may be ufeful to note 
by the way, that to have an ear in a natural fenfe, is to 
have that ufeful member perfect and clear, which, through 
one or another occalion, may be obftru£led. Th© ears 
of fome men are dull, they are in a manner flopped ; 
that curious membrane is fo out of tone that the fub- 
je6l can hear but little, yea it may be nothing at all, 
which is very difcomfiting, particularly to them that 
have known the pleafure of found. To be totally deaf, is 
inconvenient and dangerous, and a trial to the chriftian, 
particularly on this account, that it deprives him of hear- 
ing the word of the Lord, a principal means of his com- 
fort. Thanks be to God, there are other ways of hear- 
ing the voice of the Spirit than that of attending to the 
word preached j neverthelefs it is a great afiiidtion to him 
S s 



33Q LECTURES (M Ttm EJ^ISTLE 

that delights in the teflamonies af the Lortd to b^ pri€V<ii^ 
ed fbom hearing them publiflied: in, his namei. . -. 

The ear is no othet? than an ability o£ foul: or- h^ai-tjl;-^ 
praife and embraoe- the voice of the Spirit, or a capapity 
for difceriiing fpiritual obje<fts^ which, the natural man 
bath not* It is not tjhe natural* ujiderlianding of any man,, 
hawever- cultivated or enlarged. Man^ ai>: a reaionabl^: 
creature, with proper affiftance, may underitandthe wprd^i 
of Tcripture, he may perceive the dodlrinea they cont^im, 
and alfo difcover the.juft connexion and harmony of gof-. 
pel-truth, and at the fame time fall Ihort of this divine f<^- 
Gulty ; Neither is it an ability for difcourfing on points of , 
faith to public edification, which is a lingular talent. Thei 
ear we now l|:)eak of is common to regenerate perfons;,; 
who being favingly enlightened, can diftinguifh the glory- 
and importance of the gofpel, and cordially embrace it, 
as when the heart of Lydia was opened ftie attended to 
the things which were fpoken by Paul* A certain -write.r,-; 
who is not to be fufpe<9;ed of undervaluing liup^an ppwier,- 
or attainments, thus defines it : *' It is:, fays he,, a good, 
" inclination to, and a good judgment andj perception qf; 
<' divine things, fp as thoroughly to, Wieigh and^ confiderr' 
^^ what is fpoke-;" All which are certainly included, for- 
we dial I prefently fee, that in the ufe.of the fpiritual ear^ 
every power«is engaged; but^ if the fpripture is true, it. 
iairapoffible that the natural man iliould.thus, know the 
things of the-Spirit of God, i Cor. ii,.i4* a.V:eil of igno* 
ranee and prejudice covers his mind ; no^r is; one. man by 
nature better difpofed or more capablejthan, another; of at- 
taining to this : It is for want of confidering the bad .moral 
Hate of fallen, man, that any, in oppofition to, thef telti? 
mony of God, conceit that the fine fenfe, jiberaVeducatiQn, 
or- any other comparative excellency, in an unregenerate 
ftate, brings the fubjed: a jot; nearer to, thiS: divine fenfe^ 
the wifeft and nobleftof the- world are a^.far off from it 
as the foolilli and vulga^ ; there is no foundation fer this 
capacity in the carnal mind ; and if the finner cannot, Vvith' 
the greateft external advantages, attain the true idea or 
difcepnment of fpiritit^lithings^ miu;hi lefs eaj> he, a^:>ply 



T0 THE €HU'R€H AT SARDIS. 331 

them to binfifelf. What our Lord faid to .the Jewff, John 
viii. 43. mayjuftly be applied to natural men without any 
exception, " Why do ye not undefftand my fpeech ? even 
"becaufe ye cannot liear my word." Gamal reafonings 
and pride blindeth the eyes of the linner, and fill him with 
jnfuperable prejudices againft the Ipirituality and purity ^ 
of the gofpel ; till thefe are removed he is not able to , 
diftinguiih their 6xeellency or reliili their fweetnefs. So 
then this ear is not any fpeculation or human attainment, 
however refined or exalted^ but a fupernatural and expe- 
rimental thing of the Spirit of God. The phrafe, even 
when applied te a capacity for natural hearing in the com- 
mon fenfc of mankitid, conveys an idea of fomething ex- 
traordinary, to have an ear for mufic : What is it lefs 
than to have a diftinguifliing judgment and tafte for the 
harmony of founds^ which yield the fubjeo; unfpeajtable 
pleafure ? But will any deny that this is a peculiar talent, 
a kind of perfonal fenfe, which is not to be acquired or 
defcribed, thGug;h it may be greatly improved? A perfon 
muft be naturally formed for delighting in muiic : In like 
manner no man can feel the happinefs of knov/ing the joy- 
ful found till Chrift is formed in him, or he is a ne;w crea- 
ture. This hearing ear is the fpecial gift and work of 
the Lord, Prov. xx. 1%, which he bellows at his fovereign 
pleafure : Hence fays Mofes to rebellious Ifrael, " The 
''• Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive^ and eyes 
" to fee, and ears to hear unto this day," Deuc. xxix. 4. 
In a word, the hecefiity of regeneration, in order to hear- 
ing the Spirit, is evideht from our Saviour's declaration'^ 
*' He that is of God heareth God's words ; ye therefore 
*' hear them not beCaufe ye are not of God," John 
viii. 47. 

To hear in general, is to exert this diftinguifliitig facul- 
ty, in attending to the things of divine revelation ; and it 
implies a diligent fearch into the mind of the Spirit. 
*' Let him hear ;" i. e. let him exercife his fpiritual fenfes 
tliat he may perceive the mind of the Holy Ghoft, and at- 
tain a juft conception of divine things^ till he arrives to a 
fitil alfeance of undtrftanditig in the my ftery of God. Now 



22^ LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

he that doth this will embraceevery opportunity for hearing, 
reading, meditation and prayer. It alfo carries in it aferi- 
oiis refleftion on the excellency and importance of what he 
difcerns, that his heart maybe duly and conftantly affe£l- 
ed. And further, this hearing is to be extended to prac- 
tice. The man who doth not conform to the orders of his 
iuperior, can in no proper or honorable fenfe be faid to 
hear him, nor can that man be efteemed a hearer of the 
Spirit, whofe temper and conduct are not conformed to 
his dilates ; without aiming at this, or indeed unlefs this 
is in a good meafure attained, all pretence to hearing the 
Spirit is vain ; for a man to talk of hearing what the Spirit 
faith to the churches, and live in pride and fenfual plea- 
fure, or go on in a courfe of diforder and fin, is to mock 
the Almighty, or rather to deceive his own foul, for God 
is not mocked. In fliort, to hear in the fenfe of this ex- 
liortatibn, comprehends the whole obedience of faith. 

Some refolve this fpiritual ear into a holy defire or pur- 
pofe of heart to attend to the voice of God, and give the 
fenfe in thefe words, " Let him that has an ability and is 
*' defirous of hearing :" And moft certain it is, that to 
hear is freely to open the ear. A willing heart is eflential 
to the hearing of the Spirit. The people of Chrift are a 
willing people, and their will, being fan<^ified, is much con- 
cerned in hearkening to the Lord : they are alfo impartial , 
and open the ear without any referve. This is the lan- 
guage of the obedient foul, '' Speak, Lord, for thy fervarit 
^' heareth." And again, " I will hear what God the Lord 
*' will fpeak,** Pfalm Ixxxv. 8. Moreover he is conftant 
in this divine exercife, it is his habitual and daily practice ; 
and finally, it is that in which he delights. The wifdom 
and goodnefs of our adorable Creator are wonderfully dif- 
played in fo conftituting the human body, that in a health- 
ful and temperate ftatc, the exercife of its fenfes is highly 
delightful. Thus in the exercife of faith, that fpiritual 
fenfe of the new creature, in whatever manner it is exert- 
ed, affords the fubje^l a fmgular pleafure ; the very open- 
ing of the ear to the Spirit, though it call for great felf- 
denial, is grateful to the chriftian j his love to Jefus, aiid 



LCH 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 333 

his profpeA of glory to come, yield him unfpeakable joy, 
even in lufferings for the fake of Chrift and his gofpel. 

Many are the motives which induce the believer to 
hearken to the Spirit ; as for inftance^ his dignity and 
love. Doft thou find thyfelf dull, my dear Friend ? Con- 
fider vi^ho fpeaks: the infinite majefty of this divine Per- 
fon, and the grace and power difplayed in the execution 
of his office, demand thy regard ; it is the voice of God, 
of the Holy Ghoft, of that Spirit which proceedeth from 
the Father and the Son ; he is the Almighty Agent that 
formed the body, thy Redeemer afilimed, in which he bore 
thy fms away on the tree ; by his power alfo that body 
was raifed from the grave, and thou thyfelf waft quicken- 
ed when dead in trefpafles and fins, and obtained the ear 
with which thou canft hear, and on whom all faints de* 
pend for the refurreclion of their bodies in the laft and 
great day. To turn a deaf ear to the Holy Ghoft ; what 
is it lefs than to affront thofe divine Perfons by whom he 
4S fent, and to defpife him as a Spirit of revelation and 
grace ? But, far be the finful and fatal prefumption I 

Again, another inducement is ^}ihat the Spirit delivers, 
which is important and glorious. There is nothing fpo- 
ken by the Spirit to the churches that is falfe, impertinent, 
or trifling ; all his fayings are true, they are holy and 
wife, and moft nearly concern us ; he fpeaketh great things, 
things deep and myfterious, which call for the utmoft at- 
tention to difccrn, and the knowledge of which is of an 
interefting nature ; whatever he faith in his word hath 
a real connexion with the believer's prefent peace, and 
will have fome influence into his future happinefs, or pro- 
mote the honor of God in his eternal felicity ; yea, he is 
alfo a comforter in all that he fays to his people. There 
is no awful threatning, or felf-denying precept in the whole 
book of God, but, if rightly underftood and duly applied, 
imports fome confolation to the believer: He will fpeak 
" peace to his people and unto his faints." 



334 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

It is alio an argument with hicn that fears God to heai*^ 
the Spirit, when he confiders unto *wibam his words are di*- 
re6led, even to himfelf. The voice of the Spirit, particu- 
larly in his exhortations to perfevcrance, and proraiiiss of 
ialvation, vidory, and glory to the churches, is to every; 
difciple of Jefus. *' He that hath an ear/' If thou haftaa 
ear, the Holy Ghoft fpeaks unto thee ; and this is the ar- 
gument of wifdom, '* Unto you, O man, I call, and my 
*" voice is to the fons of men," Prov. viii. 4. And befides, 
we are to remember that the Lord fpeaks in kindnefs and 
love, Heb, xii. 5, faith the apoftle " Ye have forgotten,'^ 
i. e, negieded, " and not hearkened to the exhortation 
*•■ w^ich fpcaketh unto you as unto children." ' 

And further, the importance of obeying the Spirit, is 
not the leaft motive to hearing his voice. In the inilance 
before us, we fee, from the epiftle itfelf, how awful the 
expe^ation of thoCe who would not hear, hold faft, and 
repent I On the other hand, the glory and joy of him that 
attended this divine meffage is great beyond all exprdlion. 
In like manner it is in refped of the whole of facred fcrip- 
ture : The divine author is the Spirit of Chrill, that great 
Prophet, concerning whom, thus faith Jehovah, "■ Whofo- 
*' ever fliall not hearken to my words, which he fhall fpeak 
" in my name, I will require it of him," Deut. xviii. 19. 
i. e. puniflihim with everlaftingdeitru£tion, as appears from 
Peter's difcourfe, Ads iii. 23. 

The amount is as follows ; The ear demanded in this 
exhortation, is a fmgular faculty, peculiar to the regene- 
rate ; it is the ear of faith, which is a kind of fpiritual fenfe, 
by which the fubjed is able, through divine affiftance, to 
difeern the things of the Spirit, and is duly affeaed with 
their importance and glory. The attention required is 
no other than the exertion of this ability in iiarchmg into 
the mind of God, that he may be conformed unto it in 
heart and life. The motives to which are, the majefty 
and grace of the divine Speaker, the .e x cell en t and inte- 
reiling nature of the things he declares, his du'eaion to 



TO TH£ CHiURGH AT SARDIS, 335 
the^ {ubjp£l> and the infinite importance of obeying his 



voice. 



It appears theti^ that a new heaj::t is needful to a faving 
iJSRprovemqnt oSthe gpfpelr A man muft have an ear before 
hje, can hear... Without a faculty- fuited to the objed, it is 
i«i|>o(ljble- to difcern and embrace it. But of this the na- 
tftiral man is dellitute, in refpe<Sb of fpiritual things, he mull 
tjierefore. be born again,, for, conceived in fin, his heatt is 
corrupt and totally alienated from God, fo that he neither 
4Qth nor can delight in his law* In vain are the moft {brik* 
ing. reprefentatipns of divine obje^ls from the word, to 
the carnal mind ;, it isrvoid of fpiritual fenfe, and the con- 
ceit is abfurd, that any fpiritual object, how glorious foever 
in itfelf, or however juftly or nearly prefented, or indeed 
finely illuftrated, fhould properly affed it. Hence the 
nsoft fkilful and affei^ionate preaching is frequently abor- 
tive, and the grace of God is faithfully preached to many 
ii^ vain ; for until the Holy Ghoft is given from on high, 
a^id a new fpirit is put withinthe hearer, aspromifed, he can- 
iB>t difcern or relilh the things of God, fo then ** Paul may 
*' plant and ApoUos water, but God- muft give the in- 
" crcafe." 

I have already hinted^ and it fhould- be remembered, that 
the chriftian himfelfftandsin need of frequent andearnefl 
e3&hprtations to hearken to the Spirit. No man can hear 
in any fenfe without an ear^ but he that is endowed with 
this faculty may be dull of hearing, yea, and fcarce hear 
at all to any advantage. Permit me, my Friend, to ex- 
cite thee : Open -thine ear to this divine voice ; let this bes 
thy care, when in private or in public devotion, yea and in 
every fituation and concern of life. Alas, our ears, how 
often are they- turned afide to vain imaginations ! The fugi 
geitions of Satan and the fancies of men captivate, impover- 
ifli, and darken our minds, and betray us into fin ; but, jf our 
ears, hung on the lips of the Spirit, with what reverence^ 
delight and profit ihould we-hear ! 



336 LECTURES ON THE EPISTLE 

And wouldeft thou examine thyfelf, my dear Reader j 
the following criterions may ailift thee. This hearing by 
faith is accompanied with the love of the Spirit, and his 
voice; his mouth is moft I'weet ; and no wonder, feeing 
it is the voice of thy Beloved who fpeaks by him ; thou 
art alfo imploring his divine aids, that thine ear being 
opened may be perfect and found ; like wife the preaching 
and the minifters of the word are highly efteemed ; thou 
wilt not, as fome, under a conceit of hearing the Spirit, 
defpife the means, an attendance on which he hath pre- 
fcribed to his faints ; moreover, the hearers of the Spirit, 
are thy chofen companions, and every notion or inven- 
tion of man, contrary to the teftimony of God, thy utter 
averfion. And further, thou wilt try whatever is propof- 
ed in the name of the Lord by the fcriptures, and adhere 
to nothing in refpeft of dodlrine, worfliip or experience, 
but what they declare to belong to the faithfuh And 
are thefe fymptoms upon thee, my Friend ? then, be not 
afraid ; whatever may be thy infirmities or involuntaiy 
defe(^s, thou mayeft foberly rank thyfelf with thofe who 
have obtained mercy to incline their ear to the Spirit of 
holinefs and grace. 

To conclude. This folemn demand from the exalted 
Redeemer, proves religion a perfonal thing, and that li- 
berty of confcience is every man's privilege and duty. 
Nothing can more efFe6lually cut off every pretence of au- 
thority over another man's confcience than this exhort- 
ation ; we are not allowed to hearken to any who would 
arrogate to themfelves a power of impofmg upon us their 
fenfe of fcripture, or prefume to dire6l our faith, or the 
manner of our worfhip. He that hath an ear, which is 
requifite to vital godlinefs, and which, as we have feen, 
is the fpecial gift of divine grace, is called upon, not to 
hear what the churches dictate, but what the spirit saith 
unto the churches. No man therefore, nor any body of 
men, however facred in their character, are at any time 
to be regarded, in point of religion, farther than they 
agree with the voice of the Holy Ghoft. Confcience is 
facred to the authority of God j yea, and by this demand 



TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 337 

of the Lord, every man is not barely permitted^ but even ^ 
commanded to hear with his own ear j he therefore that" 
interpofes his authority between my ear and the voice of 
the Spirit, a6ls a tyrannical and impious part, for every 
man by this word of the Lord, is not only entitled^ buc 
alfo obligefi t9 mjiintain the- rights oi his ownrconfcience, 
as he wiM anfwet it to the Almighty. Thuls Ifcerty oi 
private judgment, that firft and great principle of Proteft- 
ants, and of all true religion, is fiked on a folid bafis, and 
never to be ihaken to the end of the world. Thanks be 
to God, and our excellent prince and confti^uti^, inthefe 
happy nations, we enjoy this freedom in its utmoft ex- 
tent ; no point of faith, mode of worfliip, or whatever 
relates to that dear thing refigtoHy is attempted to be im- 
pofed upon us. O that we may lead peaceable lives in all 
godlinefs and honeliy^ andtfikat 6urfen]^a£ity, Ii*kewarm- 
nefs, unbelief, and carnal contentions, may never deprive 
us of the invaluable privilege^ or pr&yeiU our improving 
the fame, to the glc^y of_God. an^ our.pwa everlafting 
advantage! 



END OF THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS. 



T t 



■ r- ■- 



D I S S E R T A T 1 d N 

ON THE 

Gondu6fc:of the Faithful, 



IN THE 

D 4M o F MALACHL 
B O O K VI. 

^ — ^ ' ' — 



LECTURE XXVII. 



TJbe degenerate state of the jfews. What is implied in 
the saints speaking often one to another ; topics of 
discourse, RefeBions, 



IT appears from the letter which we have opened and 
read, that a few remained upright amidft the threat- 
ning decknfions at Sardis. Thus in times of the greateft 
defection, God hath refer ved a people for himfelf; and 
it may be ufeful to fee the meafures they took, that, fol- 
lowing their laudable example, we may, in like manner, 
preferve ourfelves in an hour of temptation. No doubt 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 339 

tbefe. worthy perfons, who ftand commended of the Lord, 
were a£iive in their duty ; and, while they mourned the 
fad ftate of Zion, ul'ed every means in their power to 
maintain their integrity and hope ; of this indeed we have 
no particulars, hut, froni other like inftances on record, 
we may gather the inclination and practice of the faints 
in a time of diforder, of which none is more dire£lly to 
our purpofe, than that of thofe in the days of Malachi, 
when religion and manners were funk to a degree, per- 
haps below the mark of any former period of the church, 
I have therefore chofe to fijbjoin a view of their conduft, 
and the meraorial taken of their zeal in the pre fence of 
the Lord. It is written in the third chapter of the pro- 
phecy, the i6thand 17th verfes, as follows: " Then they 
" that feared the Lord fpake often one to another, and 
" the Lord hearkned and heard it; and a book of remem- 
'*- brance was wntten before him for them that feared the 
*^ Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they 
** (hall be mine, faith the Lord of hofts, in that day when 
" I make up my jewels ; and I will fpare them as a man 
*' fpareth his own fon th^t ferveth him." In this account 
we have the cuftom of the faithfu}, the regard which the 
Lord paid to them, and his gracious refolution in their 
favor i the firft of thefe is the fubjed of this le£lure. 

The imagination of fome, that Malachi was an angel 
in the form of a man, feems whimfical andgroundlefs ; his 
name, though it fignifies an aqgel, will not fupport their 
conjecture, for the fame word is applied to the Meffiah 
himfelf, ch^p. iii. i. where the Father ftiles him my mef- 
fenger ; fo that we may as foon qvieftipn the proper huma- 
nity of Chrift, as of this fervant of the Lord. We are 
told, 2 Pet. i. ai. that the prophets, with whom Mala- 
chi is numbered. Matt. xi. 10. were holy inen^ who fpake 
as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft. Some take hira 
to be the fame with Ezra the fcribe, who indeed was a 
preacher, and expounded the law to tlie people, but hath 
no criterion of a prophet in his character; it is thought, 
with more colour of reafon, that he was cotemporary with 
Nehemiuh j th^s, however, feems plain, and is generally 



34P ; CONDUCT OiF Ttm. FA'Tl^HFUL ' 

allo^*ed, that he was the Minffiire^meflengerto ungrate- 
ful b&ckfliding Ifrael, and that irom his death prophecy 
ceafed till the incarnati<Dii of the Son of' God, bemg about 
the Fpace of four hundred years, whofe appearance was the 
more conspicuous for this long night of darknefsand 
filence. 

But our concern is rather with the moral and religious 
ftateofthe Jews in his day, and, as hinted already, this 
wis ihamefully diffolute. Far be it that fuch a deluge of ini- 
quity fliould again fpread over any people or nation 1 They 
indulged to all niahner of evil, and were funk into the very 
dregs of corruption' and wickednefs. In ver. 5. they are 
charged with forcery, adultery, falfe-f wearing, opprefTion, 
injuftice, and cruelty. It likewife appears that the mod " 
daring infidelity raged, infomuch that they impudently 
faid: "Every one that doth evil is good in the fight of 
*' the Lord, and he delighteth in them," which is in fome 
rfefpe<^s worfe than atheifm itfelf ; and, taunting the pro-' 
j^hets who threatned them with vengeance, they faid, 
*' Where is the <jod of judgment ?" chap. ii. 17. No 
Wonder thefe fcoifers Ihould profane the holinefs of the 
Lord, and marry the daughter of a ftrange God, yet they 
called themfelves the children of God^ and pretended to 
ferve the raoft High : but at the fame time were partial, 
hypocritical and prefumptuous ; like fome nigardly chrifl- 
ianswhofe pitiful offering fall Qiort of their ability as re- 
quired, they deceitfully covered the altar with tears, while 
they polluted it with their torn and lame facrifices, and 
feafted themfelves with the lambs of the flock, having pleq- 
ty of males to anfwer the appointments Of the law ; but 
the table of the Lord was contemptible, it was a wearinefs 
to ferve him, and they fcornfully fnuffed at the prpvifioii 
bfhishoufe; yea, the priefts themfelves were ignorant, 
Hothful, mercenary, and defpifed the name of the Lord, for 
which they were rendered bafe in the eyes of the people, 
b curfe which feems entailed on time-ferving and corrupt 
minifters in every age ; for mankind in general, however 
void of religion themfelves, feldom fail of heartily defpif- 
ang wicked men under a faered charadcr ; in Ihort, the 



IN m^ DAYS OF MALACHI. 341 

viJenefe of every rank in thiis depraved generation js fcarce 
to be paralleled, and almoft incredible ; and though they 
were fliarply reproved they received not corre^^iion, but, 
ihftead of repenting, were (tout, and with infolence repli- 
ed to the Lord : " Wherein have we robbed thee ? where- 
*^ in have We defpifed thy Name ?'' And, to conclude this 
melancholy fubjedlyfo wretched was the time tJiat the more 
p^oLid and wicked any man was the more he was carefled 
and applauded ; fuch was the hateful and deplorable con- 
dition of Ifrael when Malachi was lent in the name of the 
Lord, and accordingly as a thick fpreading cloud clothes 
t-he heavens with blacknefs, and as it were makes fackcloth 
their covering ; fo high and heavy charges on thefe heiii^ 
ous tranfgreffars, and fearful threatnings of divine ven- 
geance, extend through all this prophecy, infomuch that 
fliort of the account beforeus, fodark is the fcene, that one 
might be tempted to think with Elijah, that not a faint 
was left, as if the Lord had totally forfaken his people ; 
but on a fudden darts forth from this threatning cloud a 
ray from the Sun of Righteoufnefsto chear us ; a remnant 
appears " that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his 
'^ Name?" 

But what could thefe pious fouls do ? llieir number 
was fmali, and it is probable alfo their outward condition 
comparatively mean, for it is feldom that others efcape 
the pollutions of the day ; and, from the lacrilegeand pro- 
Tanenefs complained of, with what is declared in this pro- 
phecy concerning men of that order, it I'eems no breacli 
of charity to fuppofe that not a prieft was to be found in this 
little company, at leaft no one of dignity or power was 
among them; what then was a few, poor and defpifed, 
though godly perfons, capable of, in oppofition to thefe 
floods of impiety and vice ? Could tliey ilem the rapid 
tide of corruption, or be likely to reform this abandoned 
race? Or to what purpofe was it for them lo open their 
lips to this icornful and hardened generation? In fuch evil 
times the righteous are lilent, they have no fare or pro- 
miiing opportunity of fpeaking to the pul:>lic in bei'ialf of 
God and religion, yea, it may be, watch the door of their 



34^. CONDUCT OF THE FAITIIFUL 

mouth againfl: bofom friends and relations, Mic. vii. jp,,. 
What then could be done ? ttiuft each, like afolitary dove, 
tabring on his breaft, bewail himfelf alone ? It is likely 
they mourned much apart, hfing greatly perplexed, though 
not in defpair; they could find no fatisfa£lion pr relief in 
popular affemblies, but one way wa? left among themfelv^s, 
and though it was attended with trouble and danger, this 
way they took, a path little trod in a day of Ucentioufnefs 
and carnal fecurity. This trapk is no other than religious 
conference; they frequently difcourfed together in upright-, 
nefs and love *• " Then," when immorality, profanenefs 
and infidelity fo much abounded, " they that feared the 
" Lord, fpake often one to another." And their voice, ast 
we fliall prefently fee, came into the ears of the Lord of . 
Jiofts with acceptance. In like manner they who love God,, 
without riches, power, learning or any other fhining gift 
of nature or providence, by their holy converfe, in his 
.prefence may greatly edify one another ; an expedient 
more efpecially ufeful in a feafon of general departure from 
the ordinances of the Lord, and the habit of hfe which be- 
comes thofe who fear birn. This was the cuftom of thele 
pious Ifraelites, however inferior they might be in many 
refpe^ls, with hearts full of concern for the glory of God, 
and a view to their own prefervation and comfort, they 
were enabled by grace to confer together, to their unlpeak- 
able honor and advantage, as will hearafter be feen. 

Now this pra£lice fuppofes, i. Th?Lt they h&d frequent 
cfemblles. It was impofiable to hold thefe conferences 
without meeting together, to which they who fear God 
have been always inclined, and particularly when they per- 
ceived any remarkable danger. Man is fopial in every ftate. 
" The companies of the wicked (fays David) have robbed 
*''- me ; but I have not forgotten thy law," Pfalm cxix. 
6 1, When the impious meet daily to countenance one 
another in their abominations, and to uphold the wretch- 
ed caufe of infidelity, (hall the righteous, whom they hate 
and oppofe, forfake the ailembling of themfelves together, 
and lofe the things they have gained ? John ii. 8. They 
ceftainly will not; the faints, in the exercife of grace, 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. J4J 

will ailociate for 'their mutaal fupport, and in defence of 
the truth, when the eneniy comes in like a flood ; and he 
that can allow himfelf to neglect this natural and necefia- 
ry means of his own prefervation, and of promoting the' 
caufe of piety in the world, does well to confider how the 
lott of God dwells in his heatt 1 

ij^fC. .;•:;:•/ ' J:- ;• .Lit .- ; ■ 

*^ Again, it implied that they freely opened their minds to 
mcb other. The fcripture is unacquainted with filent 
iileeting;s, which are really vain and abfurd. Religious 
aflemblies are for the glory of God and our mutual profit ; 
but, can thefe ends be anfwered where nothing is faid ?' 
How can our united fupplications and prailes afcend to* 
the Father, or inftru6libn and comfort be conveyed to our 
hearts, in a meeting where a Word is not uttered? It is 
therefore highly unreafonable to plead for, or pra(£life a to* 
tal filenee among the faints, when gathered together in 
the nanie of the Lord, The faithful referred to were 
otherwife taught J they opened their mouths, no doubty 
to the Lord, in prayer and thankfgiving ; but the report 
we are now conlidering is confined to their fpeeches one 
to another, which might be according to their ability from 
the word ; biit here is notfo much a regard to the preach- 
ing of one qualified and called to that important fervice^ 
i^hich may be ohe means of eftabliihing the children of 
God in their private aflemblies ; it iTefers to conference- 
Hieetings, in which they more freely and univerfally dif- 
courfed, every one bearing his part : for in converiation^ 
like a bank, each companion has or fhould have his ihare ; 
at thefe meetings of the faithful, all in general fpeak in 
their order, in a manner fuited to the occafion and cir- 
cumftances the.y w6re in,*,as the expteflion implies. 

This leads td bbfefve," that we at^enot to imagine that 
this was a light or common difcourfe. The Hebrew 
word, rendered spnke in the account, is very emphatical ; 
it points to the order of their conferring togel'her, and the 
propriety of what they delivered. The term is ajjphed 
' to God when he fpake to Mofes, and it is alfo ui'ed to 
exprefs the eloquence of Aaron, whofe lips were prepared 



344 qe^sfByGT of) ?he facthfUjL 

to fj>eakwell, or in a^i expellcnt roapner^;- it is notjb^r^l^. 
to fay, but it Hgtiifies an orderly continued wife fpeechy- 
liich as may delight and profit the hearer, and Ihews that 
thefe pious fouls' were greatly aififted in this humble at- 
tempt, and endowed with ^ Spirit from on high; the 
confufed and rude way of ifome, under a pretence of free- 
dom in their aflemblies, is carnal, indecent and vain, and 
no mor^ to be compared with the conference commend'ed 
in fcripture, than the babling of fools with the ferious and 
pertinent difcourfes of the learned and wife,rin the moft 
refpe<^able fociety. Thefe holy men met under a deep 
concern for the name of the Lord, and their mutual fafety; 
^nd encouragement in his ways, which were defpifed j 
and when the people of God come together in this frame. 
%nd view, whether in a formal or more familiar manner,; 
the Spirit is often poured out from on high ; hence their 
lips move fweetly and wifely. O the reverence, fervor 
and propriety with which they who fear the Lord fome-; 
times fpeak to one another, under the influence of his 
grace, which he hears with delight I 

It is neither prefumptuous nor vain, but may be ufeful 
to conjedlure the topics or heads of difcourfe the faithful 
went upon in thefe meetings. Indeed no man now living 
was prefent, but, from the nature of the thing, and from 
univerfal experience under the like circumftances, vve, 
may eafily apprehend, and even venture to affirm, that 
the following fubje^ls had a place in their conference : 

r. " The name of the Lord." This includes his nature, 
counfels and caufe, as we ft^all have pccafion to (hew 
when we enter on the chara6ler of the pious. Thefe 
Ifraelites fpake the truth in their heart, and ho doubt their 
difcourfe turned on that which occupied their thoughts. 
They fpake one to another concerning the holinefs, 
juftice, power and faithfulnefs of the Lord their God. 
Every one in his temple fpeaks of his glory. Dif- 
courfes on the name of the Lord in: this fenfe, are 
very ftrengthening to the faith of God's people, and . 
tends to engage their hearts towards him. Beiides, 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 34s 

we may fuppofe that they conferred oil the prophecies, 
hiftory and promifes contained in revelation. Indeed, be- 
fore the invention of printing, copies of the fcripture were 
fcarce ; Bibles are now very cheap ; but in thofe days a 
few leaves of that facred volume would fetch a confider- 
able fum ; neverthelefs fome of the company might fur- 
nifli the reft, and others from their memories affift the af- 
fembly ; hence they might fpeak to one another on the 
promifes of the Meffiah, God's covenant with Abraham, 
and his repeated engagements to fave them that fear him ; 
they might iikewife difcourfe on the feafonable and won- 
derful appearance of the Almighty for the prefervation 
of his church, and the reviving his caufe when in danger, 
by Noah, Mofes, and alfo in the days of Elias, when faith 
feemed to fail, and true religion was ready to expire. 
Thefe confiderations, with the immutability of the divine 
counfel, which infures the completion of the ele<5l, afford 
ftrong confolation to the faithful, and fill them with cou- 
rage under the darkcft fcenes of providence^ 

2. Their hearts were full of concern about the abomi- 
nations by which the Name of the Lord was blafphemed, 
and therefore no doubt they dwelt upon the threatning 
errors and diforders which prevailed. In this fad itate 
of things, as hinted before, they might be rather difcou- 
raged from fpeaking to others who, being hardened in their 
iniquity, would only deride and abufe them, and thereby 
add to their guilt ; but to one another, in thofe conference- 
meetings they freely unburthened their minds on the me- 
lancholy fubje^l, which might be ufeful to excite a becosa-^ 
ing indignation againft the provoking tranfgreffions of the 
times, to keep them on their guard, and to animate them 
in holding fail their profeflion. And further, 

^^^^3. It may be prefumed that they fpake to one another 
concerning the fnares that were about them, and the 
temptations they were under, at leaft in fome meafure, to 
comply with the finful cuftom of the day, and thereby to 
fall from their iledfaftnefs. In a feafon of general defec- 

U u " 



'}546 CONBUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

tion, men full of fubtlety lie in wait^ if po'ffible, to pervert 
from the ways of the Lord, and there are commonly po- 
pular arts in pra^ice^ by which fome are overtaken to 

' their hurt; thefe differ according to the tafte of the times, 
aiid are craftily adapted to the temper and circumftances 
bf the objedl ; but whatever may be the form of the nets 
which are fpread, it is natural for thofe who are on the 

■ Watch, to acquaint one another" with what they perceive, 
and mention the inftances in which they prevail, that, 
being fufficiently warned, they may efcape the paths of 
the deftroyer. To this it may be needful, at times, to 
call to i-einembrance their frailty, and how liable, the bed 
are, through the deceit of the ftefli, to be orertaken and 
fall into fin. , . . 

But, i>f all the fubj^fts which may turn upi 1ft >thfe Qdh- 
ference df the faints in a time of apoftafy, there is none 
imore conimoii or ufeful than that 6f their own experience. 
By experience I mean the efficacy of the gofpel in the 
heart, which is through the operation of the Spirit, and 
that communion With God and fenfe of his love, which 
the believer may haVe found in his attendance on divine 
, inftitutions. That the word comes not in word only but 
alfo in poWer, fufficient to inVefl: the fubje(fc With an afifur- 
ance of the truth, and that they who enibrace it with love, 
and obey it from the heart, have enjoyed delightful fellow- 
ftiipwith the Lord in his Ways, rhuil be owned by thofe 
who pretend to the credit of divine revelation ; and in- 
deed, he who has felt nothing of this internal eiTe^l by the 
word unto repentance and faith, is a ftranger to vital reli- 
gion ; for we areexprefsly told that the word thus "ef- 
«' fe(^ually worketh in them that believe," i ThefT. ii, 
13. It is not bardy a faft which has in forte degree •once 
been found with the chriftian, much lefs is it confined to 
thofe who aire ftrong in faith, this ef^e^t is common to them 
'who believe ; n6r were the faithfal of old without this ex- 
'^perience, the fymptoms of Which are, hatred of fin, defires 
'.after holinefs, and joy in the Lord ; now, however fome 
under a fpecious pretence of humility, and the d^jceit of 
the heart, would take chriftians off fr:om a regard to this 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 347 

as an uncertain ^nd ta'anfitory thin^, if any fuc]"i experience 
exifts, to hefitate which is to favor of deirm itfelf, let r^a- 
fon judg-e if a remembrance thereof is not a natural and 
powerful means to eftablifli its fabje(El in an ^ge that isf. 
loofe and prophane, for this man has the witnefs in himfelf 
to the truth from which he is tempted to -depart ; he ha^ 
felt the power of thofe dodlrines, which the wicjced coq; 
tradidandblafpheme ; and can a man be eafily moyed frpjTj 
the truth wliich hath been effedlual to his growth in grace^ 
and con>niunion with God ? He that doth the truth cometq 
to the light, and will bring the feelings of his heart, ^ 
well as his external obedience, to the ftandard of fcripr 
ture, for he is concerned to manifeft its fobriety, and that 
it is agreeable to the analogy of faith and to the commo^ 
teftimony of the faints, for even experimental religion is 
fubftantially the fame in the called, and nothing can be 
more rational tljan to improve that experience, the reali- 
ty of which is evident to his eonfcience, into an argument 
for holding fait his profellion, for tjiough no m.an's private 
expe;"ience is a proof to another th^t his religion is divine, 
yet to himfelf a more folid evidence of this he cannot p.of- 
lefs, miraculous teilimony or immediate infpiration alonp 
excepted ; even that bell of internal evidence which he- 
Jongs to the Bible, namely, the purity of its dodlrines aii^ 
precepts is not equa.1 to that of its fanclifying effeds in tlyi 
hea,rt, of which ^the belleyer is confciou.s ,on n fl.e<*l,ion. 
This being the crfe, it is eafy to feQ .the advantage that 
inufl: ^riie to the faithful by a free communication of their 
experience to each other, to confirm them and to anirp^tje 
th^ir prefeverance amidit the fcorn of unbelievers, 9r li- 
centious profeiForS) for, what man who hath this evidence 
of the truth in his heart will defpife or forfake it ? T.l^e 
apoRle was animated by this effe6l of ^he" word upan 
others : " For 1 am not afliamed of the gofpel of ChriA, 
" for it is the power of God to the falvation of every one 
" that believeth," Ro,m. i. 16. How much more fhall 
^,a, manbe encouraged to abide in his profe;(rion, who iin^s 
...himfelf the fubje£t of this divine power ? May the Reader 
rnanifeil his knowledge of the like teltimony by his wa^k, 
for I prefume tha,t he is C5>nv^nced,jthat i\o,^r.^c|e or topir 



348 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

of difcourfe is more profitable among the children of God, 
in a perilous time, than what relates to their acquaintance 
■with experimental religion. Other particulars might be 
fubjoined, namely, their infinite obligations to Jefus, who 
was facrificed for them, the contradictions he endured, and 
the Ihame he defpifed when he fufferedon the crofs ; they 
will likewife remember their folemn engagements to him 
and his people, the miferable end of apoltates, and by eve- 
ry ai'gument in their power excite one another to ftrive 
againft fm and to hold out to the end j and, to fay no more, 
they will not forget the grace there is in Chrift to fupport 
and deliver them, nor the glory they fhall obtain at his ap- 
pearance and kingdom ; but time would fail, and the Rea- 
der will think thefe hints are fufficient. 

It appears then, that chriftians are not filent when to- 
gether, for want of fubjeds adapted to their comfort in 
this ftate of trial. The things of the Spirit afford a rich 
variety of matter for difcourfe ; yet, alas, how often is 
it feen that, being ftraitened in themfelves, they are 
dumb, or rarely converfe on what relates to the kingdom 
of God ; but when they are enabled to open their bofora 
and fpeak freely on thefe divine topics, they find comfort 
by the mutual faith of each other : it knits them toge- 
ther in love, and has a powerful tendency to revive their 
fpirits when drooping, infomuch that lometimes they 
meet in heavinefs through manifold temptations, and re- 
turn with thankfgiving and joy, being ready as it were 
to take off their harps from the willows, and with melo- 
dy tune them to the God of their life, fo that they who 
omit fuch opportunities little think how much they lofe 
by their abfence, and lie out of the way of their own 
great advantage. 

From this inftance of piety it alfo appears that true re- 
ligion is focial. Indeed the godly man is obliged to fiiun 
the vain multitude. He is in a manner fequeitered from 
the world, and muft often retire, it may be fometimes 
from the beft of company, for, however feme live, pri- 
vate devotion is needful to a clofe walk with God j to be 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 349 

unacquainted with this, is to be a ftranger to faith, or at 
leaft luch are declining apace from its virtue, and will one 
day bitterly weep for their folly ; now, on account of thefe 
neceflary withdrawments, the believer may be thought an 
unfociable creature, but this is for want oFunderllandingor 
confidering the nature and tendency of his life, which, 
while it induces him into his chamber toconverfe with him- 
felf and his Lord, that the life of religion may be maintain- 
ed in his foul, by that very means preferves an habitual fenfe 
of the love of God to him, and his approaching falvation, 
which naturally create a defire, yea^ and fometimes a 
longing after thofe affemblies in which he may hope for 
a tafte of that joy, in the fulnefs of which the fpirits of the 
jufl; fmg round the throne of God and the Lamb. Thus 
the ]?ieliever's clofet fits him for the fan£luary,and his pri- 
vate Intercourfe with heaven prepares and difpofes him 
for the communion of faints ; nor is any effed of divine 
love in the heart more certain, than that of a readinefs to 
meet them on every proper occafion, and a delight in their 
prefence. Some under a high profeffion of the gofpel may 
be cynical and referved, but it is unjull to charge their 
difagreeable temper on the religion of Jefus, the genius 
of which is quite the reverfe ; nothing can be more di- 
re<^ly oppolite to an evangelical fpirit, to which brotherly 
love is eflential, than any thing that favours of a monkilh 
life, which fome men, through weaknefs or defign, plead 
for and pra^life. The gofpel leads its fubjefts to aifoci- 
ate often, and to an open frank converfation one with an- 
other ; fo that it is no good fign, and far from being ami- 
able, when perfons affefl the unfociable habit which fome 
men wear; a habit which, as it is contrary to fcripture- 
example, is no lefs prejudicial to the intereft of religion, 
for it tends to deprive the faithful of one principal means 
of their confirmation and joy. 

It is an obfervation grounded on univerfal experience, 
that a man is known by his company. Thus the friends 
of the believer are thofe who fear God ; his natural or 
civil connexions in life may cxpofe him to very unplcafing 
fociety at times, bat he that walks in the Spirit will not 



S50 CONDUCT Of THE FAITHFUt 

choofe to aflbciate with the igTiorant and prophane ; he 
is, with David, " a companion of ail them that fear God ;" 
and he dehghts in the faints who are the excellent of the 
earth ; hence he is earned with the Lord in fuch lan- 
guage as this : " Let thofe that fear thee turn unto me, 
*' and thofe that have known thy teftimonies." Art thou 
Reader, a companion of the ungodly, thou art either un- 
godly thyfeif, or ftrangely feduced ; beware of the plagues 
that are coming on the wicked, bat I would hope thy 
iellowfliip is with the righteous ; be thankful for thy 
happy fituation ; it is a lingular advantage to enjoy their 
favor and company, but a mercy llill greater is an hear^ 
to improve it. 

And, are the advrantages of chriftian conferences fo 
great and important ? may we not juftly lament that it is 
•ib much ne^le6led, :or ratjier laid afide ? That there is 
now little of it in the ordinary difcourfe of believers, al- 
iB-oft every one knows, a forrowful fymptom of their 
hearts being too feldom employed on heavenly fubje£ls; 
hence many are lean and unfruitful, but, as the perfedlion 
©I chriftian fociety lies in a gofpel church-ftate, the in- 
tereft af religion is moft efFeftually promoted by the gai- 
thedngs of thofe who are joined in the Lord, it is there- 
fore melancholy indeed, when members of the fame church 
either fpeak not at all, or rarely fay any thing to one an- 
other about the things of God. Cafual and ordinary 
meetings of the faithful ought to be improved to theijr 
fpiritual profit, but the principal and only fufficient meatus 
of promoting the kingdom of God, is the fellowiliip of the 
faints in the order of the goij^el, to which every other 
.pious endeavor muft be fubordinate ; hence the old fer- 
■pent, in every age, would entice men from a regard to 
this divine inftitution; in fome inftances, they who be- 
long to this or the other community, omit the aflemblies 
of their brethren, andfeemto be religious abroad, which 
is ftrange ; but, from what we have feen, the advantage 
of conferring together is manifefily great, it fhould there- 
fore he encouraged in every church, without which one 
coniiderable end of communion ^ndmeans of keepng i|p 



IN THE DAYS OF MAL ACHL 351 

the |iower of godline{3 is loft* O thkt thefe amcient wor- 
thier were followed! can any thing be more highly ap- 
proved than their pra6lice? or can it with realbn be 
doubted whether their condiisS is tranfmitted for the imi- 
tation of pofterity ? Why then, Beloved, is the laudable 
cuftom difcoLiraged orforfaken? Things are not fo bad 
with us as in the time of thofe whofe example is before 
us ; but, are there no appearances to awaken our concern 
for the Name of the Lord, and to put us on every me- 
thod to quicken one another in his way ? why then do we 
omit this excellent means of promoting the knowledge 
«^'d iove of God ? will you fay that religious conferences 
have been abufed? be it fo j what means of grace may 
not be abufed by vain and felf-confident perfons ? Shall 
the children of God be filent, or refrain from fpeak- 
ing one to another, becaufe fome bafe hypocritical men 
have taken occafion from thefe exercifes to intrude and 
exalt themfelves, againft the order and peace of the 
church ? This method of edification is. fo natural, that it 
is fcarce to be ^avoided by them who are earneftly C^ek- 
ing the things which are above, infomuch that whenever 
the work of the Lord is going forward, conference-meet- 
ings abound, and the enlightened gladly lay hold of every 
opportunity for fpeaking on divine fubjecls, and the con- 
-ftaht ufe of this praftice in a church is of great fervice 
towards the mutual acquaintance and love <)i the mem- 
bers, difcerniiig of gifts tor the ministry, pi'eventing apof- 
taiies, and promoting the power of godlinefs amottg them. 
O that the faithful were enlarged, and their lips circum- 
cifed to fpeak to one 'another, that they were free to 
communicate their exj!)eriei.ice and knowledge, and to lay 
open the temptations, fears, hope and joy, which excrcife 
-their hearts in a life of faith ; nothing can be more rati- 
"onal or becomitig their ehara'Sl'cr. By this means many 
^a church has been preferved, or revived, yea, and in fome 
inftances long fuftained without a Hated minifter, till otic 
'iiai been obtained, wi-th a Melfii^o; under v/hom it hnth 
^iiaurithed again; it. is therefore to be 'wiilied that t!v«f 
example before us Avas uni\Aerlaiiy foUowe<:l, and fpi ritual 
'conferc«ce encouraged in every thrifti^n oarnniimit*)'. A. 



35^ CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

pra6lice fo highly pleafing to the Lord, and conducive 
to the interell of perfonal and focial religion, jnuft furcly 
be the objeft of their defire, who hope to be his in the day 
when he makes up his jewels, which will abundantly re- 
compence the felf-denial that may attend their zeal for 
his Name. 



LECTURE XXVIII. 

What is inctuded in thinking on the Name of the LORD* 
His hearkening to his people'' s discourse^ and book of 
remembrance^ explained. Refiedlians* 

WE have feen the righteous in conference together 
at a time when the Name of the Lord was pro- 
phaned^ and have heard, as it were, the fubje£ls on which 
they difcourfed. Thefe exercifes are efteemed, in pro- 
portion to the increafe or decay of vital godlinefs, info- 
much that we may in a meafure difcover the ftate of reli- 
gion among any body of people, by their regard to fuch 
pious and needful aflemblies. When the work of the 
Lord is going forward, the affe6lions of his .faints are 
raifed towards heaven, then they dehght in thofe inter- 
views before him which tend to promote his intereft, and 
their mutual advantage. At firft converfion men naturally 
defire to tell what God hath done for iheir fouls, and to 
be further enlightened, and it is the joy of more advanced 
believers, when in a becoming frame, to aifift their young 
brethren. Hence they gladly embrace every fit oppgr- 



IN Tte DAYS OF MALAGHI. 35 j 

tunity of coming tc^gether. To this foiHe object and fay, 
that thefe meetings interfere wkh the chriftian's obliga- 
tions in othei' r^efp^^ls; but, however fome idle perfons 
may have negle^led their duty, and given juft caufe of 
complaint, it is far from being impoffible for* the difciples 
ofjefus, who are nearly fituated, to hold fre(/uent, I had 
almoft faid, dai/y^ affeinblies for fpirituai exercile ; this 

* As hinted p. 2za, if people delighted in fpirituai exercifes, they 
might contrive frequent meetings, without a negled of their civil con- 
cerns. The daily prayers, and other reUgioUS fervice in the Eftablifhed 
Church, and alfo among the DiiTenters, in almoft every market-town and 
city in the kingdom, net excepting the metropolis itfclf, evidently prove 
that our forefathers found this to be fadit, otherwife, what fhould be the 
occafion or motive to the many donations and voluntary fubfcriptions for* 
the fuppbrt of fuch opportunities ? We may flatter ourfelves ; but, for 
the moft part, abfenee from thefe appointments is not owing to ncceffary 
ibufiriefs, but to a want of inclination, and the truth is, that we are coo 
plainly now become lovers of pleafure more than lovers of God. I take 
leave further to obfervc concerning thefe occafional nleetings of the faith- 
ful, that, however in the general they were promifcuous from the begin- 
ning, there are inftances recorded in which they were compofed of wo- 
men only, who exercifed, at leaft in prayer, one among another ; in all 
appearance this was the cafe in the houfe of Mary, ASis xii. iz. At 
this nieeting for prayer many were gathered, but not a man feen among 
them; and from what Peter fays, ver. 17. it fliould feem that neither 
James, nor any of the brethren, were there ; but, that in which Lydia 
was converted, an account of which we have in chap, xvi isftillmoreto 
the purpofe. We are told that Paul fpaketo the Women which rcfdrted 
thither ; and will any perfon fuppofe that the men withdrew on the en- 
trance of the apoftle, or that he fpake not to all who were prefent ? To 
fay that the greater part were women, or that Paul difcourfed with thefe 
women before worfhip began, is at beft an improbable conjedlure, and 
as it were bdggin^ the queftioh ; no circuniilance is mentioned that would 
induce ah unprejudicsd perfon to conclude that a man, befides the apoftle 
and his companions, came to this meeting : And, why fliould not women, 
endowed with grace, excrcife one among another in private .' Indeed 
their lilence is required in open and public aflemblies, it being, as de- 
clared in I Cor. xiv. 2S- aftiame for women tofprak in the church ; nor 
fliould any prefunie to encourage a prai5lice in dircA oppofition to the 
teftimony of God ; but, if it is abfolutely unlawful for a woman to pray, 
or to open h(?r mouth on points of religion, in any aflcmbly whatever, 
where is the pertinency or dcfign of the apoftle 's difcourfe in chap. xi. 5, 
6 ? Several other paflliges flicw that women were employed in a fpirit- 
uai way for the benefit of the difciples, namely, Afts xviii. 27. Rom. 
;tvi. I. Phil. iv. 3. Rev ii. 20. &e. v/hich the Reader may confuk at 

W w 



354 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

may certainly be done without any impeachment of their 
charadler in civil and natural life, and it has always been 
the cafe in a flouriQiing ftate of the church. Widely 
different from this, was the period in which the faithful 
referred to were accuftonaed to meet ; there was then 
not a bare coldnefs or negledl, but an averfion to the ways 
of the Lord, which is ever attended with a popular con- 
tempt of thofe who delight in waiting upon him. Un- 
der thefe circumftances we may fuppofe that their meet- 
ings were private, or that they who followed them were 
expofed to reproach and derifion ; but the God whom 
they ferved difdained not to own them, whoi^ record on 
high in their favor, infinitely over-balanced th€ difgrace 
aiKl trial they met with from men, which we are now to 
Cfjnfider. ^^ And the Lord heiirkened and heard it ; and 
*' a book of remembrance was written before him for 
'' them that feared the Lord, and that thought u'pon his 
"Name." To think on the Name of the Lord is a cri- 
terion of genuine piety, it may therefore be ufeful to 
open this critical note, and fliew unto whom it belongs, 
and then fee the attention which Jehovah gave to the 
godly in their meetings, and the tranfadlion which enfued 
this gracious notice of their zeal for his glory. 

The Name of the Lord, in this place, is his public ai(- 
thority, worftiip and intereft ; or in other words, it is his 
truth, ordinances, and vifible church, and comprehends 

his leifure. Indeed it feems unreafonable to reftrain chriftian women 
from any manner of edifying one another, in their power, that is decent, 
iand that confifls with the order ef the church, prefcribed by the Lord, 
and his infpired miniilers. In one word, I fee nothing in nature or fcrip- 
ture, that forbids a woman the hberty of praying, or otherwife excrcif- 
ing her ability, in private or fpecial fociety, which I the rather mention, 
becaufe without this allowance, in fome circumftances, one means of re- 
ligion id entirely loft, particularly family prayer, and that even where the 
riling generation is nearly concerned, and there is reafon to fear thut this 
groundlefs prejudice againft a woman's being exercifed in a focial way 
under any confideration whatever, hath occafioned a fad negledl of that 
branch of wc^rfhip in fome, who might otherwife have led thofe under 
their care to the throne of grace, with advantage, though, to their praifc 
be it fpoken, a few of that fex are not afhamcd of their duty to God, and 
tl)« fouls committed to their charge. 



IN THE DAYS OF MALA.CHI. 355 

€very thing that relates to real piety, in its power 
and form; it is the cauie of God and truth, and ftands 
«ppofed to infidelity, prophanenefs and vice, of eve- 
ry kind and degree, whereby the moft High is difhonored 
and blafphetned, as in the corrspt and degenerate age of 
Malachi : To this agrees chap. i. 11. " My Name faith 
^ the Lord of hofts, fliall be great among the Gentiles," 
46 e. as appears from the fentence immediately following, 
^v in every place incenfe (liall be offered to his Name, and 
■*^ a pure offering," which came to pais through the obe- 
-<iience of faith, when the golpel obtained in the world. 

Now to think on this Name, is not barely to have a 
-thought about it, which the wicked may have ; nor doth 
^it preclude all concern about civil and temporal things 
without which no man can fill up his Ration in providence, 
<jrfadorna chriftian profeflion ; neither is it impolfible for 
a'^man who is entitled to this charadler, through one oc- 
xafion and another, to have the Name of the Lord out 
jof his thoughts for a feafon : His experience was rare, 
who laments in his diary, that on a certain day, for the 
-fpace of an hour, he was a Granger to a thought of Jefus 
and.his Name. Alas, how many hours and days pafs away 
Twithou-t anaffe£li«g fenfe of his love, and concern for his 
glory! 

This regard for the Name of the Lord, lies i. In an 
habitual concern for his honor, and the intereft of religion, 
which is inherent to a principle of grace, and infeparable 
from the love of Gad in the foul. The new creature 
breathes after the glory of its divine Author ; lb that it is 
as natural for the righteous to think on the Name of the 
Lord, as the thought of foolilhnefs is to the wicked. This 
facred habit in the faithful appears to be univerfal from 
lia. xxvi. 8. *' Thedefire of our foul is to thy Name and 
••* remembrance of thee." Herein lies a critical difference 
between the natural and fpiritual man's thoughts of God, 
that in one it is forced, difagreeable, againft the prevailing 
bent of his mind, and what he would gladly difmifs ; 
whereas in the other it is of choice, accompanied with de- 



55^ CONDUCT OF THg FAIT HWh 

light, ^nd what he feeks after, as David, " My meditation 
*' on him (hall be fweet," Pfalm civ. 34. Which leads, 
2. To obferve, that the firtt fenfible aiid 5i6lual exeixiie 
of this divine habit is a fixed and deep intention of mind, 
contemplating the intereft and glory of God : The word 
imports a clofe inrpe<Slion, as the ingenious artificer turris 
about a curioi^s work, and views it on every fide, that he 
may finifli the fame : So that one obvious and effential idea', 
is that of employing our faculties in ruminating on the 
Name of the Lqrd. He therefore who is a ftranger to 
the ftudy of thofe things which belong to ithe kingdom 6£ 
God, has no pretence to this character ; nor is it merely 
to meditate, but, 3. To think, with a folic itude of mind, 
about its profperity, with contrivance how to promote it. 
This thoughtfujnefs turns not only on the excellency and 
importance of the Name of Jehovah, but alfo on the danger 
it is in through the declenfions and apoftafies of the times 
s-Tid implies our chief care and ftudy to fave, revive, and in- 
creaie it. The word is fometimes rendered ^'mj^ ; and he 
that doth not lay to heart the welfare of Zion, and contrive 
what in him lies towards the intereft of Chrift in his day, 
falls ftiort of the defcription. In a word, it imports do- 
ing to our utmoft, whatever may tend to the honor of God, 
or exerting our talents of every kind for his glory. Some 
obferve from this claufe, that here is comfort for the poor 
and weak, who can fcarce fay or do any thing for promoting 
the caufe of the Redeemer in the world; the promife is 
not to them who do^ but to thofe who think on the Name 
of the Lord j but every one who anfwers this character 
"will be adive according to his ability. In vain do they pre- 
tend to a cordii^l regard for the caufe of God, who with- 
hold any thing in their power to promote it ; and what man 
is not capable of doing fomething ? vyho cannot pray for 
Zion, appear in her aflemblies, and be more or lefs active 
for the peace of Jerufalem ? 

Thus to think on the Name of the Lord is no fuperfici- 
al, tranfitory or fruitlefs thing, but a folid, permanent, and 
choice experience of the faithful, and carries in it the ut- 
moft folicitude and endeavour of the fubje£l for the glory 



m THE DAYS OF MALACHL 357 

of God. Now wiioeveris thus employed will find himfelf 
grieved, or rejoiced, as the jntereil of religion declines or 
profpers ; he will alfo deny himfelf, when needful, and, if 
called to it, fubmit to the loweft or mofl: difficult office of 
love, for the fake of Chrift and his people. Happy the 
man who hath this noble teflimony of his confcience ! the 
Lord will think upon him in a time of trouble, und great is 
his hor^our as will hereafter appear* 

And, hath the Reader a claim in this note ©f thje righ/- 
teous ? Is he confciops of a like folicitude for the Name 
of the Lord, and concern for his intereft in the world? 
Alas, fome nominal chriftians openly .difcover a want of 
this regard for the welfare of Zion; they live in a fenfu- 
?d manner, and are not grieved for the apoftafies of the 
times ; but awful is the threatening: " If ye will not lay 
*' it to heart to give glory unto my Name faith the Lord 
*' of hofts, I will even fend a curfe upon you." O that 
rarelefs backfliders, who neglefl the honor of God, could 
tremble at his word, and repent of their folly I But, my 
Friend, is, " hallowed be thy Name," engraved in thine 
heart I haft thou a cordial concern for the caufe of religion 
in a degenerate age ? Rejoice ; cherifii every thought 
which the love of God may excite in thy breaft for his 
glory, purfue it with vigour, and feize the opportunity for 
adion ; it may call for much felf denial; the world may 
feoff, and wanton profeilors reproach thee, but the eye 
of the Lord is upon thee ; dare to be holy, and zealous in 
his ways ; thou Ihalt not lofe thy reward I 

Decent conceptions of Jehovah will prevent low and 
carnal ideas of this report of his grace ; when we fpeak 
of the Lord's hearkening to his people, we are to guard 
againft every conceit unworthy his glorioHS perfections, 
and not indulge a thought to the difhonor of his infinite 
mind. Far be it to imagine that the eternal God is at any 
uncertainty about what is fpoken in fecret, or that. his 
acquaintance with what paffes in the moft private aifem- 
blies of his faints, depends on that formal attention, by 
wliich they attain to the knowledge of one another's dii- 



358 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

courfe ; bodily parts and geftures are no doubt attributed 
to God by way of allufion, and denote fimilitude in his dif- 
penfations with the conduct of men under the like cir- 
cumftances ; thus his fupporting grace is defcribed by 
holding with his hand, and putting underneath his arm; 
hJ^ regard of the ftate and fupplications of his people, by 
-opening his eyes and his ears ; and when it is declared 
that he hearkened and heard what thefe gracious perfons 
faid in their meetings, I apprehend the following ideas 
are included, i. That he \s present. They who liftento 
difcourfe are fuppofed to be in company, or near, at leaft 
within hearing : It is true the Almighty fills heaven and 
earth, and in this fenfe is always at hand and not far off, 
Jer. xxiii. 23, 24. But we know that there is a fpecial 
and gracious prefence vouchlafed to them who fear God ; 
he is nigh unto all who call upon him in truth, Pfalm cxlv. 
18. Of this there was a fymbol in Solomon's temple, 
and the promife is given to the fmalleft affembly of his 
fiiints, Matt, xviii. ao. And it is frequently found, that 
when two or three are gathered in his Name, they have 
reai'on to fay : Is not the Lord in this place ! Again, 
filence is another idea conne6led with hearkening. The 
Lord is faid to keep filence when he fpcaks not in judg- 
ment to the wicked, Pfalm 1. 3. Alfo Jer. viii. 6. it is 
faid, that he hearkened and heard, but they fpake not a- 
right, no man repented him of his wickednefs, i. e. the 
Lord gave them fpace for repentance, but they did not 
improve his long-fuffering and grace ; fo that this may in- 
tend, among other things, the forbearance of the Almighty, 
who could have looked on the proud and abafed them, but 
he faw meet, as it were, to ftand ftill in the courfe of his 
providence, and fuffer the wicked to prevail, which, how- 
ever a trial to the righteous, gave them an opportunity of 
teftifying their zeal for his Name, which turned to their 
advantage. It alfo implies his peculiar attention. Men 
liften in order to obferve what is faid ; and the Lord 
hearkening to the converfation of thofe who think on his 
Name, eflentially includes his particular notice of what- 
ever they fpake ; with this ftands connected an idea of his 
perjedl knowledge of all their difcourfe ; the end of hear- 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHL 359 

ing is to underftand the report ; indeed among men this 
end may be loft ; through diftance, the lownefs of the 
fpeaker, or fomsoccafional obftrudion, a perton may hear- 
ken in vain, but nothing can prevent the ali-perfe£l Jehovah 
from an exad and full acquaintance with every thing which 
pafleth in the conference of his people. Finally, it de- 
notes his approbation and delight : " Let me hear thy 
*' voice, for fweet is thy voice," Cant. ii. 14. A me- 
lodious found engages the attention, and the Lord hear- 
kens to the prayer and pious difcourfe of his faints, in their 
religious affemblies, as one who hath a tafte for mufic in- 
clines his ear to a found and good inftrument, played by 
a ikilful hand. Thefe are the natural and principal ideas 
contained in this wonderful fentence, namely, the prefence 
of the Lord in the affemblies of his faints, his filence, his 
attention, his perfed knowledge of every thing they fay, 
and the pleafure he takes in their concern for his glory : 
Their earneft fupplications, and affectionate fpeeches one 
to another, out of love to his Name, afcend up before him, 
as pillars of fmoke, " with myrrh and frankincenfe, per- 
'* fumed with all powder of the merchant,*' Cant. iii. 6, 
All which is very inciting, and may well induce us to 
follow this noble example of piety, and efpecially wlien 
we confider the honorable notice which is taken of thefe 
eminent faints, to which we proceed. 

'* And a book of remembrance was written before him.'" 
It has already been Ihev/n that there are many kind of 
books mentioned in fcripture, to be opened when the 
judgment is fet. A book of remembrance is a regifter of 
names or events, to which recourfe may be had on proper 
occalions. The allulion is to the cuftom of piinces, who 
order their fcribes or fecretaries to write down certain 
important events, in their prefence. Thus when the con- 
fpiracy of Bigthen and Terefh, certified by Efther in Mor- 
decai's name, was proved, it was written in the book of 
the Chronicles before the King at court, i. e. in the royal 
prefence, which was afterward produced and his faithful 
lervant, who difcovered the matter, rewarded, cliap. vi. 3. 
In like mann<;r the Lord is here reprefeiited, feeing with 



S6d CO]Kfl>t/GT OF THfc f^AIf Bf UL 

his ow'n eyes a true feeordoF wh^t h^ liad liea^rd with hiS' 
ears from thofe who feared hirti, whofe pious ^ffe6iio^^ 
iidehty and courage, he determines to recorhperice, with^ 
a glory not to be fully expreffed. The eternal omnifc-i^ilt 
Jehovah needs no memorii^l ; but this manner of fpe^aki^g 
after the ufage of men, denotes his delight in thefe faints^ 
his everlafting remembrance of their love, and the certain 
reward of his grace, afs may be feen by comparing the 
paffage with Ifa. xlix. i6. arid H^f. vii. ■%. This me- 
morial was written before hitPty i, e. under his- e)*fe 
and infpe6lion, to be continually in his fight, or laid up in 
the archives of heaven, abov^e the r^ach of any who Would 
erafe or deftroy it, that nothing might be lofl, but thfifct 
every inftanceof their holy zeal might appear in that day, 
when the righteous lliall be crawned in his presence. 
Confiderations of a moll enlivening nature, and admirably 
adapted to infpire them with an unlhakeri refolutidn to the 
end of their courfe. 

The particulars of the glory afTigned thefe advocates 
for God and religion, are at prefent referved,but iii gene- 
ral we are told, that the record was y^r them. It was 
not like that which Ifaiah, was direfled to infcribe againft 
the degenerate children of Ifrael, in which was inferted 
their rebellion and ruin ; no, this is a regifter highly in th^ir 
favor.; indeed it contained ths names and conference of 
tkefe holy perfons, but the phrafe expreffes more than 
its being merely of or concerning them, and points at the 
tenor and defign of this writing, namely, that it was to 
their honor, and to fecure their future and eternal advant- 
age. In a word, this memorial is reve'aled not for their 
fakes only, who lived in Malachi's days, but alfo for the 
confoiati®n and joy of them who think upon the Name of 
the Lord in every place, to the end of the world ; and 
he that believes will hold fail his integrity, however tried, 
and reckon that his prefent fufferings are not worthy to h^ 
compared with the dignity and blefffdnefs of his accept- 
ance with the Lord at his coming. 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHL 361 

How much to^be admired is the condefcention and 
grace of the Moft High ! That the infinite and adorable 
God ftiould thus. bow down to his creatures, or hearken 
Xo the feeble voice of his imperfect faints in their little 
affemblies, is truly aftonifliing I May we not juftly adopt 
the words of the royal confecrator, when, on his knees 
in the temple, and with expanded hands towards heaven, 
he draws back as it were with holy amazement, and fay, 
5,1 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the 
'^' earth!" The thrones in heaven bend, to behold this 
wonderful kindnefs of Jehovah to his people I That the 
glorious Lord of univerfal creation, who alfo, in his ftate 
as Mediator, is far above all principalities and powers, 
and whofe ears are continually faluted with the adorations 
and fongs of the innumerable fpirits above, Ihould ftoop, 
and be taken with the groans and tears, and broken con- 
ferences of them that fear him below j this is wonderful 
indeed, and can only be relolved into that fovereign love 
which paifeth underftanding, and which firll brought him 
down from his glory in which he ihone wath the Father, 
to humble himfelf to the fliame and death of the crofs, 
that he might redeem us to, God by his blood I 

This throws a luftre on the conference of the faithful, 
and fliould .engage them to be frequently fpeaking one to 
another. The prefence and ear of the Lord are a glory 
on the affembly of his people, however fmall or defpifed. 
The reputation of any fociety, draws many after it; and 
if men fought the honor which comes from God only, 
they would certainly delight in thofe meetings, which 
they too often ihun. It is natural to frequent the affera- 
blies we apprehend to our credit and advantage ; how 
ftrange is it then that a good man can be unfociable in this 
refpecft, or refufe to join in an esercife fo rational, lb 
approved of the Loud, and fo beneficial to himfelf, and 
to the deareft intereit he has 1 

Under a perfuafiou of this divine prefence and notice, 
with what reverence and fobriety (hould we behave in 
X X 



yb% CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

our afffemblies f In a meeting where every thing that 
patTes, is recorded in heaven, and the Lord is prefenp 
hicifelf, who can allow a vain thought or trifling expreff-^ 
ion ? Would a man of fenfe or modefly behave unfeemlyv 
dr fay any thing difa^greeable in the prelence or hearing 
©f a wife and refpe^able governor or prince ? Would hk 
»ot be careful to avoid whatever might offend his high" 
Befs, and ftudy to honor and pleafehim? Impertinen4 
and foolifti difcourfe among them who profefs to fear God," 
en any occafion, is /ow, and unworthy their character ;' 
yet, alas, if this book of remembrance was laid open b^i 
fore us ; could we read without blufliing? How many 
hours that are fpent, even in the company of chriftians^ 
ftand ready to accufe us? Our fpeech fhould always be 
good, that it may minifter grace to the hearers, bat i» 
religious meetings, more elpecialiy we fhoukl keep oUp 
hearts with ail diligence, and behave in an orderly, de- 
cent, humble and cautious mamier, as in the fight of the 
Lord, A due fenfe of the record taken in heaven -of 
what is feid among the faints on earth, would check ttefr 
boidnefe of fome, wIk) fpeak, or rather prate, without 
thinking, and give juft offence Beloved, we are not to 
be raih with our mouth, but pray for a fpirit of wifdom, 
that we may know how to condu£l ourfelves in the houfe 
of Gody who dwells in the midft of his peoplie% This holy 
guard in the aflemblies of the faints, is perfe£lly cOnfill- 
ent with a becomrng freedom, in expreffing oar thoughts 
and experience, or whatever may tend to the promoting 
of vitii religion. 

But, thou art ready to obje(5l, ray talents are mean, i 
can fay or do little or nothing for the caufe ; and on thar 
account am tempted to abfent from the meetings of the 
brethren. Thou haft the greater need to attend them ^ 
they are an. excellent means of flrenglhening the weak, 
and increaling the light and capacity of thoie who fear 
God, awd, v/here is the uprightnefs of thy complaint, if 
thou are not feeking more grace? It is poffiWe that pride 
may lurk at the bottom o£ this fpecious pretence, is it de- 
cent to fay, I will not employ the capacity I have, bccaufe 



!N THE DAYS OF MALACHL 563 

ft is net equal to that which fome others obtain? Wilt 
thou rfefufe to acknov^le(!ig€ the fovereifgntj' of God in the 
difti^ibution of his gifts ? Or, canll thooi, with feafon, et- 
peQ. to be further entrufted, if thou doll not improv^e the 
talent thou hall ? Be clothed with humility, and do not 
th^nk thyfelf utterly mcap'able of ferving the ihterell of 
religion. A perfonal appejifrance ^rftong the faints, is Jn 
-itfelf a n^featls of thofe affemblies, in which they ceintrive 
«nd aift for the Name of the Lord ; and, is net this in 
thy power ? Thou haft not the eloquence of Aaron or the 
tongue of A polios, yea, it rhay be thou canil fcarce £pteik 
at all, yet, if with real concern for the honor of God, you 
^fffft withyour prefence before him, he knows thy defire^, 
aiid-*his ear h open to the voice <>fthi^ heart. - It iA an 
honor to be qualified for plea^ling the canfeof God, atAi 
for edifying his church, bwt hi^ gracious mem o^'i^l' i it be- 
half of his peopl-e is not confined to th<)fe • wIk) Ipeak hetl, 
or evefj to them who do mod, but extendi to- all who 
fbihk on his Nafnre. Up'on the whole, it'- a|>p«ars^ tivat 
there is no reafon to be di'feoui^ageci on accoUAt of thy 
weaknefs^ r.dr is thstt ^ri exciife fo^r thy n-on-attehd'ance 
^ith the faithfolki thtjir ei(2«afeEience-iiitctiVigS. 

And, what is the contempt, ill-will, or reproaches of 
men, or any other trials to be met with in thus feeking 
the kingdom of God? The world may deem it weak and 
fuperllltious, and they who are addi^led to pleal'ure, and 
attend all aiTemblies but that of the faints, may pronounce 
it alFefted fingularity, or even doubt the fmcerity of thofe 
who follow them ; they will obje<ll and lay every ftum- 
bling-block they can in thy way, if not malicioully v/atch 
for thy halting, and magnify every faiUng agajnll thee ; 
yea and further, thou mayeft be iorfaken by fome who 
were once thy zealous companions, fee little fuccefs, and 
even for a feafon be in darknefs of foul. Thus the Lord 
may hide himfelf, and keep fdence awhile, neverthelefs 
thy name is written in heaven ; a book of remembrance 
is there ; not a thought, a figh, a tear, a word, or an 
adlion, fhall be loll or forgotten. Then be not aflianied ; 
though out of the books of fome men, to thy prefent dif- 



364 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

advantage, and the contempt of vain perfons ; thou art 
noted in this book of God, precious in his fight, and. (halt 
receive at his hands a crown of glory which fadeth not 
away. 

To conclude : Should not the gracious inclination and 
regard of the Lord to his faints when difcourfmg toge- 
ther on his name, excite their attention to him ? It be- 
longs to the faithful to hear whatever the Lord God will 
fpeak, and his hearkening to them is one motive to this 
obedience of faith. " The companions hearken to thy 
" voice," Cant. viii. 13. It is not only difobedient, but 
ungrateful to negleft his voice, whofe ear is attentive to 
ours. Blulh, Chriflian, if thy confcience tells thee thou 
haft at any time discovered a want of regard to the autho- 
rity and love of thy Lord, who is ever waiting to be 
gracious unto thee I In a word, is a book of remem- 
brance written before him for thee ? Let a memorial of 
his free and wonderful grace be written on the table of 
thine heart ; bind it on thine arm, or rather let it be 
graven on the palms of thy hands, to animate thy zeal 
for his glory, that thou jnayeft appear to be his in that 
day when he makes up his jewels. 



LECTURE 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 365 

LECTURE XXIX. 



LORD of Hosts ; <whence that magnificent title; the 
day when he *voill make up his jewels ; and . what 
implied in so doing. 



TH A T a book of remembrance was written before 
the Lord, in favor of his people, might juftly in- 
fpire them with courage under aii their temptations, but 
he is gracioufly pleafed to make a further revelation .of 
his will, and to unfold this facred memorial ; not to in- 
dulge a vain curiofity, but that they might be filled with 
peace and joy in believing, and prefs towards the mark 
of this glorious prize. This is the record : " And they 
" fhall be mine, faith the Lord of Hofts. in that day 
" when I make up my jewels ; and I will Ipare them as 
" a man fpareth his own fon that ferveth him," Other 
paflages intimate the notice God takes of the thouglits, af- 
fections, refolutions, prayers, tears and fervices of his 
faints, and they warrant us to conclude that thefe arc all 
punctually infcribed in this book ; but here we have an 
exprefs recital of its contents, from whence the faithful 
may certainly know what is written in heaven concerning 
them. And, who can forbear with the pfalmift to admire 
and fay : " O Lord, how great is thy goodneis which 
*' thou haft laid up for them that truft in thee before the 
" fons of men !" 

This is not the conjeClure of man but the counfel of 
God, on which alone that hope depends, which is the 
anchor of the foul ; it is what the Lord of hofts faith ; 
a diftinguifliing character firft adopted by Hannah, when 



366 CONDUCT OF THE. FAITHFUL 

flieyowed in the bitternefs of her foul, i Sam. i. 1 1. Jeho- 
vahj is the Lord of hofts, as he ruleth in the armies of 
heai'en,an.d among the inhabitants of the earth, in which 
reljie^l tlie n!iff>b€T of Ms ferces at'e not to be told, they 
comjprehend every creature on whom his light fiiines, Job 
sxv^ 3. In this illuftrious charadler, are difplayed the 
m-ij^fty, power, and glory of the moft High over all ; but 
% apprehend it chiefly rei"pe61s him as King of faints, ai^ 
as the commander of the people he hath redeemed j it 
feems a: title peculiar to Jehovalt the Son, and to be ori= 
ginally derived from his conducing the liVaeliteS ou^ of 
Egypt into Canaan, of whom it is faid, Kxod. vi. 26'. that 
they were brought "from the land of Egypt, according 
" to their armies or hofrs." And again, chap, xii. 41. 
'*-^ Iti the felf fame day it came to pats that all the ho^h 
** Cffthe Lord went out from the land of Egypt;" and 
aGGordingliy the ark on' which the ihekinab retktl was 
called by tht *'- Name of the Lord of hoibs^ whxx dwelt 
" becweeni the cherubims/' % Sarti. viv 2,^ This agrees 
mkh the chara^er utidiet which he appeared to Jofbuis^ 
(Chapi. V. J5« *>The Captajin of the Lorb^s hofts,." to 
whom- drvj-fle-feonor is paid, which correfpoiids with Ifa* 
iv. 4. w^heiie the Fatnsr faith-, ^l have gifven him^^---si 
*^ leader and comr-nander of the people." Mow this Hg^ 
(nifiGant and fingular charad-er is- a&amed in the' israclanl* 
'ation before us j aifictthisJ w^as^the grand a?nd ftrikingman- 
ner in which the prophets came forth :• ''^ Thus faith the' 
! ^* LoR.% thd LORD of kosPs^'" fpom whofe mmith xh^ 
report Gomes to the heart wkhiautiiiorruy, antl being: mix* 
led with faith, produces an. affared. expectation of the pro-, 
jmife J for v/ho fliali que=fl:ioii the word of the" afflsnipotentt 
|and anchangeable God ? r 

Afld- what ear is n©t open when the Lo^rd of hofe 
fpeaks ? Who is not waiting to know what the- King*, of 
heaven will pronounce at the head of his troops ? He will 
iiireiy dfeclare fomething ^reor and ^oa^^^ li-ke^himieify to 
^i?^ joy of his faints ; of this David was confident, Plalimp 
Ik XXV.- 6. ** The Lord will fpeak peace tO' his people and- 
4' toihis faints- j^" nor was he miikken : heiittecs his voictf 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 367 

from his heavenly throne, under whom rank, in order, 
the innumerable company of angels, archangels, cheru- 
biras and feraphims, with the patriarchs, a.poftks, -and a 
multitude of fpirits made perfe£l,who were redeemed un- 
to Ood by his blood,' all filent to ■know^ and fwift to per- 
firm his fovereign pleafure ; and lo his command is to 
imfcribe this decree from his lips ! ♦» And they fliall be 
*^ mine, faith the Lord of l^jfts, in the day when I make 
** up my jewels ; and I will fpare them as a man fpareth 
"" his own fon that fervcth him." Nolefs Iwnor is infured 
them who think on the Name of the Lord: it contains 
all their falvation -and all their deftre ; lefs could not fa- 
tisfy them ; more is not wanting to render them com- 
pleatly happy for ever. 

The period referred to is the laflt and great day ; for 
though the deftruftion of the Jews is pointed at iii this 
p^-ophecy, on the cr-edit of wl>ich, as confirmed by our 
Lord, many fled'* and efcaped, whom fbme eoiint thefe 
jewels ; yet this fearful inftanee of vengeance, however 
like thai yet to come, did not amount to the defcription 
given of this day of the Lo«.d, which we are told, '^fhail 
" burn as an oven, and utterly coofume all that do wick- 
*-* «dly," infomuch that it fhall leave them neither root 
rjor branch : but this was not the cafe in the deitru£lion 
<^f Jerufalem ; indeed rauhitudes periftied in a terrible 
manTter, yet their pofterity remain to this dsy in fm and 
unbelief; neither did the righteous then tread down the 
wicked as afhes under the foles of their feet ; nor Hiall wr 
difcem between him that ferveth God and him that ferv- 
eth him' not ; all which is declared of this day, till Jefus is 
revealed from heaven^ to judge the fecrets of n^n, and 
render to every que according to his deeds. 

In this gracious declaration from the Lord of hofts, we 
are to note, whofe property the righteous fhall be at his 
glorious appearance, the mercy they fliall then obtain, and' 
how that folemn and inteFefting period is defuribed. In 

,*_ To Pella, a city of Maced'pnia. 



368 CONDUCT OF THE FAItHFUL 

begins with the claim which the Lord will make in his 
people at his appearance and kingdom, " They {hall be 
"mine." Eve^ry creature is the Lord's who is the Maker 
of all things j he hath an abfolute propriety and univerfal 
dominion over the works of his hands. All fouls are his, 
angels and men ; nor doth the apoftacy and rebellion of 
either deprive the moft High ; but there is no certain 
connexion between being the Lor,d's by creation and 
natural right, and an efcape from his wrath, as a righteous 
judge, who will not acquit ; but this, we fliall prefently 
fee, ftands connected with being bis in the fenfe of the 
text, " They (ball be mine," to me^ as it literally runs^ ; 
L e. my fons, each one fliall be to me as an own, dutiful, 
and beloved fon to his affectionate ^nd generous parent : 
This appears from tlieir being fpared as a fon, according 
to the promife j for the infinitely wife and unchangeable 
Jehovah cannot mifapply the bleifmgs of his love. He is 
undoubtedly a fon whom the Lord deals with as fuch. 
Again; ^•' They fhallbe mine,'' i. id. my jewels. Now the 
jewels of a man are his treafure, and this claim the Lord 
hath in his people, Exod. xix, 15. " Thou flialt be to me 
" a peculiar treafure above all the people of the earth." 
The exprellion carries in it more than bare property, how- 
ever valuable, it is an allulion to jewels purchafed and 
appropriated to a man's own ufe, and for the difplay of 
his perfonal glory on certain occafions, of which more 
hereafter. Thefe ideas correfpond with the relation fub* 
fifting between God and his people, whom he hath chofen, 
redeemed, and fet apart for himfelf: "The Lord hath 
" chofen Jacob for himfelf, and Ifrael for his peculiar 
'^ treafure," or jewels, for the word is the fame, Pfalm 
cxxxv. 4. " They Ihall be mine." But are not the righte- 
ous now his ? Doubtlefs they are ; being called by grace, 
they appear to be his ; under a perfuafion of which they 
may boldly fay, *•' lam the Lord's," Ifa. xliv. 5. or, as 
in Cant. vii. 10. " I am my Beloved's, and his defire is to- 
" wards me." Thus faith the Lord to the feed of Jacob, 
*V. I have called thee by tliy name, thou art mine^^ . Ifa.. 
xliii. I. This is the charaderiUic of them who fear God, 
by the teftimony of his word, and in which they can fome- 



, , jN Ti^E DAYS Qf 3y[AI.4^H:I. ,^6^ 

^\\j^Sr^eplc£^ yyhenjie?(\.^ >vith the Spirit of adoption-; 
ji^ j in i^iawy inftances the LoUD hath pwiied his peoplp 

in the clifpenfatjon of his providence, by which, their ene- 
j^^jes, who opprefl^ed them, have been made to know, to 
^tj)eir coft, that he **^ .that touchqth them toucheth ;the 
^*5,_,>apple of his eye ;" neyerthelefs, in .this (late of imper- 
jj^f^ion i^nd trial, they are often obfcured in infirmities, 
^^idions an^ perfecut^ions, under which they lie copceal- 
t^iy and their real chara^l^r queftioned by themfelves arjfl 
^others. In this d^rk and doubtful fituation, the enemy 
JgTeady to infult, and .they are Iput too prone to fear th^t 
J;bey are.not thechil^r^n of,Cod ; bi|f:,4n the day when 
„(Jhrift makes up his jewels, thefe G;lqudsi(^allv^nil|i away, 
^tl)ey flia,!! jpie .rpanifeftly hi;^, and be filled with courage 

apd joy when he wHl.confef^ them before his.Fi^ther an5i 
jjbis ang^js. *'They Ihfill beipine,'' fajth-the LoRip of 
.^vofts, evidently fpineV I will inveftmyfelfwitjh. them, and 
^begloriifi^d in them; ,thep {)i all fipall and great know> and 

every creatqre,^ip ^ijl^At uniyerf^l affenjibly, -acknowledge 

they ^re mine, when my. glory is revealed upon them ; it 
Ji^Il.then he rn^nifeft that they are mine,, whom the t'^- 
..^her hath given. me, my Iheep, for ;whom I il^jd dowin,i?iy 

. i.r With ;this. honor /and jpy,'ftahds.cont^e^ed, the riiercy of 
j^yr LfpR,D Jeius Qhrift^.ej^preflTed in thefe words, ^Sl .will 
c*'j;,fpare them as a wan lp;E)reth his^pu^n fqn, tll;it; fervLPth 
(*', him" Some 'reffer this to :tl^ dealipg^,pff fGc|d.j^\5ivh ;l>js 
^c^^ldi^fHiin tintve.i qv d^-f^JfWyflwliib^ minje in the^day when 
J j^ia^e up niy jew^els j^tijUitheniL^'Vvillfparfe,.?. e. haye pi- 
^ty^pn thqm 1 1 willinpt qnter into Judgment with themr; 
but pardon and accept them, not.withftanding.all their iiu- 
perfe£lions ; and no doubt the believer is indebted to the 
4i>firing; mercy of the Lord while hi their natural ftate, till 
.failed into feliowfliipwith him ; and in all his dilpeniati- 
^ps,ev,en ^n his chaftenings, he corre^eth them.^s a father 
..a fpn in whom he delights ; but it is recvfonfiblje to refer 
,.^wth claufes to.t,he lame period, even to:that day pf the 
yt^oai))>^h^n Yepgeapce (liall be taken Qii-tihelvvicked. Xhe 

i^in ,^ ;■' . -' • ■ : -■ ' y .y . ? xr - ; :- :, •O.' 



^^d coNbuct 6^ tHE fAitHful 

word properly fignifies to be propitious, favorable, or com- 
paffionate, even to (liew mercy to them who in juftice might 
be deftroyed. " As I live, faith the Lord, I will not fpare, 
*' neither will I pity," Ezek. v. li. i. e. I will execute 
juftice, *' becaufe thou haft: defiled my fan^luary.*^ Thus 
God fpared not the angels that fmhed, but cast tbem down 
to bell^ nor the old world, i Pet. ii. 4, 5. In this fenfe 
alfo the Father fpared hot his own Son, but delivered himi 
up to juftice for our fms, which indeed is the legal ground 
of that mercy which the righteous ftiall obtain ac-cording 
•t6 this promife. I will fpare them, fo as not toinfii^l the 
- puniftiment or evil their iniquities deferve ; as a prince 
fpares the life of a criminal, or traitor, which he might juft- 
ly have taken away, or rather as a parent dealeth witli his 
own fon, whom he will not punifti according to his defert. 
This fparing mercy is a ki"d of pity proceeding from 
love, by which the fubje£l is' faved from deferved punifh* 
nient ; and this mercy is looked for by them who think 
-on the Name of the Lord, Jude xxii. In that awful day, 
when the righteous vengeance of a fin-hating God (liall 
torifume the wicked as with fire, thofe devouring flames 
fhall not kindle Upon them, they (hall be wholly and per- 
fedly fpared : not a drop of wrath fliall fall on them ! yea 
faith the Lord, " I will fpare them as a man fpareth his 
** own fon y^2Lt serveth him^'^ they ftiall be treated as in- 
'nocent, or as though they hid, never offended : wonderful 
mercy indeed t They fliall liot only be entirely fecure 
fromi the puniftlmetit of fm, but thef fliall be juftified and 
'openly acquitted at the tribunal-feat, which juftification 
ftands infeparably cohne£led with life everlafting. So then, 
to be fpared in the fenfe of this promife, is nothing ftiorc 
-of compleat and eternal falvation. 

In this illuftiration of the mercj'' which the righteous 
fliall obtain at the appearance and kingdom of their Savi- 
our, we may note, the characler under w^hich tiiis grace 
fliall be brought unto them, viz. that of own fons ; this be- 
fpeaks new covenant-relation, €mt of which covenant no 
fmn^r fhall be fpared in that day. Chrift: is the judge, by 
commiffion from the Father^ and the mercy he difpenfes 



IN THE TO AYS OF MAL ACHI. 2I » 

from his throng, ter^iinates ob tbofe adopted fons, whofe 
fafe condu6l to glory was the end of his fufftrings and 
death ; and accordingly we find that he invefts them in the 
following terms, '^^ Come ye blefled of my Father/* To 
■which agrees Rev. xxi. 7. He that overcometh fhall in- 
herit all things, and I will be his God, and he fliall be my 
'* fon,*' We are further taught by this allufion, the plea^ 
fure and joy with which the LeRD will thus fpare them 
that fear him. When a father corredls his own fonvhe ftill 
delights in him, though his condu6l requires chaftifement j 
but if a parent, in the charaAer of a judge is called to fen- 
t«nce and punifti condemned rrvalefa^lors, among whom his 
own child has been numbered, can in juftice aqquit, or fpare 
him from the mifcrable deftruftion of the guilty, with 
what tranfporting joy muft he difcharge and defend him ; 
who can fay, or fully conceive, the delight an affe^lionate 
father muft take in thus fparing his beloved fon ? This is 
the time, O believer, when thy God will '^ rejoice over 
*' thee," Ifa, Ixii. 5, " He will rejoice over thee with 
*' joy : be will reft in his love, he will joy over thee with 
" fmging,?^ ;^eph. iii* 17* 

This notable day is defcribed from a lingular and inte- 
refting tranfa^lion which is then to take place: ^* In the 
<lay when I make up my jewels." It has already been 
iliewn, that the jewels of the LoEP are no other than thofe 
who love, and think upon his Namelthefe are his dear 
and precious property, prepared and referved for his glo- 
ry ; now thefe jewels he will make up. The firft and obvi- 
ous idea of which is cQlle^hn. It alludes to a prince or 
rich man vvhofe plate and jewels, being depofited anddif- 
^perfed in different places, are on fome grand occafion ga- 
thered together for the difplay of his magnificence. I'hus 
on fet times the great men of the earth make up their vef- 
lels of gold andoffilver; and likewife their diamonds and 
other curious ftones of beauty and value with which they 
adorn themfelves and make their appearance, on marriage- 
feafts, or oji other public occafions, to be admired in their 
affluence and grandeur: In like manner the Lord will 
(Lolled his people, who, as w$ have feen, are his peculiar 



S7!X CONIHJCT :UF 'THE FAITHFUL 

treafiare. ^* Gatii^r ifiy 'faints together , unto' mij^thoi^ 
*' who have. made a eoven'ant with me by facrrfieef' 
Pfalm 1.; 5.- ; And again,- " And he ftiall fend his angels 
*'. With a gi'eiit found of a trumpet, afnd they fliall gathef 
" together his elcift from th^ foiir winds ^ from one end of 
** the heaven to thd9ther/' Matti xxiv. 31. both which 
places evidently refer to the^ day -^of judgment,' When ail 
.the redeeiiied Ihall- be toget)Her;im^;aiae(bodyy with- tlreib 
glorified Head;; . . . . ^ /. ; ■ .^ lyd 'a^ a . '" ■ ■ ' ■ ' 

; .1:.) g9Tr:ip5»Tjl»uhno.-> r:ifi ff;^ 

- But fimple collodion is tidt pecirHar to the faints, for 
'in that day fmall and greatv-without'-exception^ fliall'ftaad 
•l>efore God j the wicked will be gathered as welt as th« 
■righteous. The expreffiori alfo imports their laftre a"n4 
beauty, and points to tlie glbrious manner in which tihe 
righteous flrairtben appear together withChrift; **wheii-I 
■*^ make up," L ev wlje'n I finifh, pstiflt, or eompfeat ti^i^fn:, 
that they may appear in tht mm'dft- perfie^lion. T-his 4t 
the gradation of the Lohd^s Xvdrk'oiiF his. people /IfaVx^lii'i*. 
:7.' ^^* I have created him for ray -glory, 1 ha-ve^^r?7/^^ hir^, 
*'yea, I have made him,'' or, accprditig tothe-rendcrin^g-b^- 
fore us, for it is the fame word, made up , and it" is well 
known that in, the wakii^g up C)f jewels, in drdt^r 1(5 k'^ 
iiiricent appearance^ they ai^e cut^ fet and polidiiejdv that 
their brightwefs may appean Thuis the faints llrali be 
glorioufly finifhedat the coming of th^rr LoRt^ whencallt- 
edto the marriage-fupper of the ;Lamb, and lliine in the 
kingdom of their Father. ' I'hey who fear the Lord havfe 
the principle of glory and beauty irt' themfelves^ not indeed 
by nature, in whichrelpeft the c^mf^rifon feSs :- they are 
naturally polluted, and guilty, nfeked and bare,- which is 
ihameful, biit,being partakers of grace in Chrift^ th'6y are thfc 
excellent of the eanh, iand have a real and fubftaTitial glo- 
-Ty belonging to them : Covered with the fporleis fdfee of 
'his mediatorial righteoufnefs ; their clothing is wrought 
■^old, ^nd their brightnefs as a bridegroom' which decketh 
iiimfelfasa prieft, and as a bride adorneth herfelf with 
■;ber jewels ; but the finifhing thefe fpiritual jeWels refpefts 
'their internal holinefs and perfonal beauty, as renewed in 
the image of God, unto a divine and eternal life, which is 



W *tflK bk^^ OF MAL AGHfi 3J^^ 

the fronor 8ln3 M{)pmdrs of tile cfeat'tife, aVid- Wifl fexterid 
t^ thdii: whole petfons at the reftifrex^ion. Grace is the 
efTence of glory, which cannot be fully difplayed in a ftate 
of fm and mortality, but when Jesus makes up his jewels, 
llifty fli'an riot brily b'e compleat in their humber, not one 
bSi^ng- miflirtg, bttt eacihfliall be finiflied in the higheft man- 
}i^K' '(tA thkt day they who at-fetHe^ Lord's, whethei: 
IS^hld- diiidiig the ^ukk-dr the dead, (hall be brought forth 
i¥i his li'kenels ; theri-each faint will be wrought up to the 
gi^^atfeft perfe£lid)hlind bear his t3art in new Jerufaletn, 
■\VhA th^it holv city cioineS do wn froin God out of he-A- 
Vihi'dS^l«:id^ a€Dtt*»fed'f6i^ h'erhufiD^add. 

Th^'b-H^ei'^fiotUc^- tiling iftijilferd, '^^thblit which' li 
miihb^l*' '6f' J6\V8'1*$ -can ■ never appear ' with advantage^ 
iia'/rt^iy, thdif-^dUe 'difpofititJn. The beauty of all preci- 
•oufe-ftbh'es;' hbWev^r excellc^nt in th'eir nature, or polilhed 
by at-t,' ^itl tie'ftiie\vin proportion to the order in which 
.'fhey ^re placed';" k'pfopisr adjuftrtient in' this refpei^ is 
iifeetlFd'l to a coiirjjleat'v^eW otf^a bt-illlantKliamond, or othec 
precious- ftOTlie,"a:nd acirjc/ttlihgiy 'feme i^ead the Words, I 
dilpofe, i. e. order, rnv jewels, as the ftones of a crown, 
fiet by a Mftil hahd, fbra difphy of their luflre in every 
^oint'oF light, to charfn' the fpe(5lator; for then the faints, 
thus 6oile6l^d iino one ftately body, will be as a crown of 
glory In the hand "'of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the 
hand df their <iJod. 'hi all bodieswho make their appear- 
■^rt'dij-'iiidividuarrrifelribers fliine" in place, and the 

glorfy 6f the proceflion depends upon order ; a faint out of 
bi^dei", iis like a loofe je^^rel that is fcattered or concealed 
?h a corner ; he cannot dirplay the beauty of holinefs, the 
■bbedienceof faith,brhis love to the Lord Jefus Chrifl, but 
lifes akit were 'in 'obfctitity, and contributes nothing towards 
the luftre of his Redeemer's kingdom on earth, which is 
gt'ektly eclipfed by a negled of an orderly profefhon, or 
^dt Walking in the Name of the Lord, as becometh his 
faints ; but at th^ refurre^tion every man will appear in 
f»is own order! i Cor. xv. There will be noconfulion or 
mifplace in that general alTembly and church of the firll- 
h6ttij ev^ry jewel fliali be in itis pl;^ce ; from whence it 



^4 eONDUGT GF THE FAITHFUL 

:will appear m the mbft ftriking manner to itrs own advan-r 
.tage, and the glory of all with whom it ftands in cont 
l^exion. 

This is the graciou? afTurance, fiom the mputh pf the 
J^oRD, in favor of thofe who think on his Name. In the 
laft and great day, when all the workers of iniquity fliall 
be rej€£led and punifhed, and the vengeance of a fin-hating 
God^ by the wrath of the Lamb, ihall come down on the 
wicked, to their eteri^al perdition, thefe faints ftiall apr 
pear to be his, his dear , and valuable treafure, to his honor 
and glory ; he will then make them up as his jewels, ga^ 
therthem together, perfe^lly finifh and duly difpofe them in 
bis iRaftrious myitical body, when he ihall prefept her a 
glorious church to himfedf i then fhall all his faithful fert 
vants obtain mercy, be fpared from the juft defert of theii^ 
maniFoldtranfgreilions, yea, and be treated as innocent, bcf 
7ng jui^ified and accepted, as thpu^gh, they, had never of* 
fended; and in o;ne word, as the, lon^ of Ood, with joy 
and delight, the Judge, tlieir, Redeemer, in the i^^# of 
hh Father, will poflefs them with life everlaliing.^,j . ,, 

It appears from this accountr ^at.the LoRp. hath a 

people fet apart for himfelf, his. peculiar treal'ure ; tha^- 
thefe jewels are at prefent fcattered and divided, bu^ 
that on the day of his appearance they ftiall be made up, 
or compleated, when they iliall obtain his mercy unto 
eternal life, in which they will find an aniple reward for 
all their fufferings for righteoufnels fake, and their love to 
his Name. An improvement on thefe points will be the 
fubje£l of an other lefture, which will finifh the defign we 
are upon ; for the prefent it may fuQice to obferve, that 
the expe£lation of the believer is fure, it refls not on any 
uncertain conje^^ure, however probable, nor is it aconclu; 
lion dr«wn from the mod plaufible r^aionings of man f 
his hope is in the teftimony of God, and its foundations 
lie deep and fecure in the immutability of his counfel, and 
guarded by every perfection of deity. . '^ I wait for the 
*'• Lord, my foul doth wait, in his word do I hope," 
Pfaim cxxx. 5. Nothing ihort of theexprefs declaration 



fN tME I) AYS OF MALACHI. 37^ 

oftlie LoRi> hiftifelf, lie's at the bottom Af our hope* iti 
thrift, it holds irt the prorhife, and centres inJehavah,vvho 
'abide th faithful, for he caftnot deny himfelf i ** In hope of 
"'" eternal life which God that cannot lie, promifedbefore 
*' the world began," Tit^ i a* I'he LoUD hath fpoken,.and 
who fliall diflannul it ? His " Word is forever fettled in 
'^ tile heavens, and his faithfulnefs eilabliflted above the 
■'^* clouds ;" he is the Lord of hofts, he fpeaks and it is 
^^one, he commands and it ftands faft;- the foul that de- 
^pends on his word may challenge the ^niverle, and look, 
•upon every creature as an inilrument in the hand of God, 
llb'far as it may affe<5l hini, to bring about his expeclatioii 
smd hope ; '^ all things work together for good to them wh(> 
'' love God," whofe purpofe, according to which they are 
called, (hall ftand, certainly ftand, " for if God be for us who 
'^ can be againft us ?" This then is the chorus of the churcr.', 
or the repeated fong of the faithful in fociety, *' The Lord 
" of hofts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah,'* 
This hope is infallible ; that every one who thinks on the 
Name of the Lord fliall be 6is, in the day when he 
makes up his jewels, and that he " will fpare fuch, as a 
" man fpareth his own fon that ferveth him ; for this is 
*' as the waters of Noah, Ifa; liv. 7-^10, As the Lord 
*' hath fworn that the waters of Noah lliall no more go over 
" the earth, fo hath he fworn he will not be wrath with 
*' his people, nor rebuke them in the day of his anger,*' 
" Surely in the flox)ds of great wiiters they Ihall not come 
'" nigh unto them. He will be their hiding-place, and 
" will compafs them about with fongs. of deliverance,'* 
Pfalraxxxii. 6,7. 

Nor ftiall tlie happinefs of the faint be delayed ; his 
falvation flumbereth not. Under fome clrcumftances he 
may now be impatient, not making the tellimonies of th« 
Lord the men of his counfel, but ratlier leaning to his 
own underftanding, and elpecially when his enemies infuir, 
and tauntingly fay, Where is the promife of his comiia^? 
"The chrirtian may then be ready to cry, O Lokd, , ho Jw 
long l or in the mother of Sifera's words, in relation to 
her fon, " Why is his chariot fotcrig in coming.^ Wliy 



37^ CONDUCT ;of rm iiMjmm^ 

^« tarry the wheeU of his ^air^f p-;,^4t,xl^^^f^Qfifr)^ 
(iiot flack concerning his prpjitiCeijthe d^. i$.^rh^pd wK^ 
it {hall con>e to pafs ithaty as -fyre AS thie ,JL.p,Rp, ^rpiugl^t 
forth the children .qf Ifrael, the .felf -fame day appointed 
four hundred and thirty years before itjS comp.ienceinent; 
in like manner the falvation- of God -fliall -not tarrvy ; " of 
*' that day and hour no man knpvveth ;" it is a fecref in 
die bofomof (the Father, Matt,, xi. ay. and it Ay^i be fud- 
4enly revealed; bi:^t-p| ithji^ weiaiie certsdn, that,?, timeiis 
jfix.ed, and that it nearly ^pprqache&v when rCh^ifi: will 
jnake itp his jefWeis ; nor {Itaji jearth or, b.eU.-be -abl^ to pr?!h 
(Cxaftinate the hour .Q;f rthi§ ib^jeff^d i^qpe ;,he faji,thj ";S,ijitrely 
'" 1 come quickly > Amen J ^yqnib, conae Lokd J?ftts*f 



L E C T U R E XXX, 



Christ's people comparable *ooUh jetioelf ; their dispersion 
in time ; the certainty of their accomplishment at h'h 
coming, ReJleElions, 



FROM the promlfe explained in the preceding lec- 
ture, it is evident that the Lord has a peculiar 
people, who are ftiled his jewels i that at prefent' thele 
are difperfed, but that a day is at hand, when he will com- 
pleat them, and-that then he will own and honor, tlie.m as 
a father his dear and dutiful fon. Tlie Header's atteiuion 



JH iHHr-D AYS lOi" umjicm. - ^377 

\kmzt ffridi'e intreated, ^whi'lie Tiattempt to frnprove th^ 
delighcful fubje£l, by fliewingthe propffety of the meta- 
phor tinder which the chofen are defcribfed, in what re- 
fpe6ls they lie Scattered abroad, and the reafons there are 
to conclude -^that they fliall certainly be gathered and 
fpared, according to the word of the -Lord"; thefe par- 
ticulars, with a glancfe on the ample reward the righte- 
ous vtill find in this grace, and fuitable re.fl^dions, will 
finifli my defign. 

In tills glorious prophecy, the Lord mentions his jew- 
els, which -he will raalse lip at his coming ; now, that 
thefe are no other than his people, who thifik'on has Name, 
appears from the aflurance he gives them thglt they fliall 
be his at that time^ which amounts to a promife of being 
counted in his treafure in the day of revelation, and the 
feptnefsof the defeription before us will appear when w^ 
tonfider, 

T. Th^ttheirnumher is csrtain, Thejewels ofaprince 
or great man, are known and determinate portions orpartfe 
of his peculiar treafure. For a man to make up hisjew^el's, 
we have feen, is to accomplilh their number or gather theni 
all together, hxtt how can this be if their number is uncer- 
tain with the owner ? Can a rich man be fuppofed unac- 
quainted with thofe precious things which he hath fet 
apart for himfelf, or his perfonal glory? Much lefs is it 
decent to ima^ne that there is any uilc^rtairtty with tha 
Loud in refped of the faints, the knowledge of whom i'» 
^flential to the idea of making them up, it being imp offible 
to compleat an indefinite number of objects : The people of 
God are a certain chofen generation, whom the Father 
5ias adopted to himfelf in Ghrift, who hath redeemed therti 
with his blood, and is charged with their recovery and 
falvation ; thefe are veffels of mercy afore prepared unto 
glory, being ordained to life everlafting, whofe number 
cannot in the nature of things be increafed or dimini(l:ied. 
1 am fenfible this holy do<?trine of the Bible is difagre cable 
t© the tafte of men who lean to their own underftanding; 

Z 2 . . 



57^ CONDUCT OF THE FAITHfUL 

but however they who fubmit not themfelves to the divinil 
foverelgnty in the difpenfations of grace, may contradi6% 
and blafpherae, this foundation of God ftandeth fure j " the 
" Lord knoweth them that are his :'' 'This fober and ra- 
tional truth, is fupported by many exprefs and ftrong de- 
clarations, and indeed by the current of fcripture, yea, it 
is infeparably Gonne<^ed with the way of falvation opened 
in the gofpel j for take away the do(irine of ele£lion, and 
the notion of a proper facrifice of atonement, and redemp- 
tion by the Son of God, as the fubftitute of finners, is not 
to be fupported: but the fcriptures declare that ''^Chrill 
" hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made 
"a curfe for us," Gal. ili. 13. And again, " He hath 
" made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin, that we 
" might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him," % Cor. 
Vi 25. This idea of the faints, feems couched under the 
figure before us, Which (liews its propriety. Jewels are 
^ certain known number of precious veflels, which how- 
ever depofited at prefent in different places, are to becol- 
lefted, in order, on prarticular occafions for the honor of 
thofe who pofTefs them. In like manner we have feen, 
" that the Son of man fliall fend his angels with the great 
" found of a trumpet, and they (hail gather together his 
*' eled from the four winds, from one end of heaven to 
« the other/' But, , 

a. This figure ftands illuftrated by the very bigb 
t£teem of the Lord for his people. Jewels are exceedingly 
valued by their owner ; and our Saviour hath obferved 
what univerfal experience confirms. Mat. vi. ai* "that 
" where tTie trestfure," i. e. the peculiar portion and 
Joy of a man is, " there will his heart be alfo." Now the 
Lord hath fet his affedions oh his people, and therefore 
he ehofe them, Deut. vii. 7. They are l^aled on his 
heart, Cant. viii. 6. They are tlie objedls of hi& fpecial 
unchangeable and eternal love, precious and hoiiorable in 
his fight. This choice and efteem arofe not from any 
motive in them. Neither a forefight of their mifery, or 
their faith, or any thing comparatively better or worfe, 
properly .and fimply, induc«^tihe Almighty to regard then* 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHI. fjt^ 

above others ; no, they are efteemed as his ele£l, and he 
fet them apart, of his mere good pleasure, as the Sove- 
reign of grace; but, having thus chofe them for himfelf, 
they are dear to him, ipfomuch that he that toucheth 
them, " toucheth the apple of his eye," Zech. ii. 8.— 
Again, 

3. They may well be thus- ftiled on account of the price, 
he paid for them. Jewels are coftly, and ufually obtained 
with a very great fum. Thus of wifdom it is faid, " She 
" fliall not be exchanged for jewels of fine gold, and her 
" price exceeds that of rubies," Job xxviii. 17, 18. To 
the fame purpofe we read, Matt. xiii. 46. of the having 
found one pearl of great price, went and fold all that he 
had, and bought it. As hinted already, there was no lin- 
gular excellency in the people of God, in thfeir natural or 
creation ftate, much lefs as involved in the fatal appftacy 
of man, to commend them in the fight of Jehovah ; but 
having fet his love upon them, and they being under fen- 
tcnce of death, and children of wrath and difobedience as 
others, they were dearly bought out of the hands of 
juftice ; redeemed, not with corruptible things as filver 
and gold, but with blood ; not with the blood of bulls or 
of goats, but with the precious blood of the Son of God, 
who was manifett in the fiefli, and who, in refped of 
his innocence as man, and the defignation of the Father, 
was as a lamb without blemifli or fpot. " Ye are, faith 
" the apoftle, bought with a price^^ i Cor. vi. 20. No 
trifling or inadequate confideration ranfomed thefe vef-, 
fels of pleafure and mercy; the expreilion is ftrong, 
and carries in it that a full price was paid for them ; 
it points to the equitable, yea to the unfpeakable value 
of that which the Lord laid down for his people. Inef- 
able indeed; he gave himfelf iox them, and poured out 
his foul unto death, that he might poflefs and enjoy 
them I No jewels, however comparatively immenfe 
in their value, were purchafed at the rate of Ghrifl's peo- 
ple : their price, on the higheft poflible computation, falls 
infinitely below that by which the chofen were redeemed. - 
Afld further, 



3^o GQNDUGT OF TfiE/FAITHPl^Ife 

4.; The allul^oij isJuH in refp^x^ of their virtue and good*- 
ness, Jewelp haye an intrinlic worth, and are of. real va- 
lue to him that poflefles them. So are the faints, they 
are the exceUiiant. of the earth, Plalm xyi. 3. In their 
apoftate. ftate they are vile and unprofitable j and fince 
their converfion, their fleQi which cleaves to them is bafe ; 
yet being called, and chofen, and faithful, they are dignified 
in the righteoufnefs of God^ which is by faith, >' unto all 
" and upon all them that believe.*' In this robe they are 
decked, as aprieft with his. jewels, Ifa. Ui. 10. They, 
are lilcewife choice in regard of their inherent righteouf- 
nefs ; thpre is fpm^ good thing wrought in them, by the: 
Holy Ghoftj;] they are really^ though in reipedof degree 
tut imperfitiSiiy yisin&.ifiQdy and in,praportion to their light, 
faith, loVe, and fruits, truly valuable, and. accordingly, 
Ija^Ti. vi. thefe. ftones of the fanduary, the precious fonS 
of Zion, are compared to fine and pure gold. More- 
over, 

5. As jewels, the people of God are moft carefully pre- 
ferved. Men, lock up their treafure in a cabinet or place 
of .great fafety ; and the Lord preferves them that love 
him ; they are hid and preferved from being loft or def. 
troy fed : They dwelt on his heart and were fecured in tho; 
covenant,, chofen in Chrift^ who is, the fecret place of the 
n?oft High, fromeveriafting. In the tirpe. of their igpo*.; 
ranee, when in the world and in the kingdom of Satan,, 
they were preferved in him, and, being called, they arc 
fecure in his hands^ his eye is continually upon them, and 
I^e keeps them> as with a garrifon, by his power, for " as 
*' the mountains are round about Jerufalem, fo;the-Loi^i>,: 
** is round about his people from henceforth even for 
"• ever," Pfalm cxxv. 2. A^^d, 

6» This metaphor^ is proper op. account of the gJ.ory 
they reflect on the Saviour. Jewels are for ornarrient ; 
in them, OR certain occafionsj perfons of rank make a mag- 
nificent appearance, agreeable to their diftinguifhing cha- 
rader. In like; manner,. Jefus doth and will fliine in his 
«:hofenj he is now adorned by their obedier|ce of faith. , 



IN THE DAY3 OF MALAGHL 3^^! 

and- fruJtSr of righteoiifnefs, which redound to his honor 
and-praife, and in fome periods the Lord has flione in the 
beauty of Zion in general, when his glory has rifen upon 
her, then this flock of his people, whom he hath faved, 
are as the ftones of a crown lifted up, Zech, ix. 16. or, 
Ifa, Ixii. 3. as "a crown of glory or a royal diadem in his 
" hand," but at his coming, wfien he {liail Jefcend from 
lieaven, in the glory of his Father and his angels, he will 
aUb be "glorified in his faints, and admired in all them 
"that believe." Once more, 

7. As jewels he will poffefs them forever. A noble 
perfon, who regards his honor, will part with any thing 
rather than his jewels,; for without thefe, on particular 
©Gcalions, his- appearance will fiiU fliort of his chara6ler, 
aod difgrace him. No man will difpofe of his peculiar 
treafure, but in cafe of neceffity ; nor will the aU-perfecl 
and bleffed Jehovah, who hath fet apart the chofen for 
himfelf, fuffer them to be loll:, or refign them to any, for 
he refts in his love, and will eternally rejoice in his peo- 
ple. So then they^ who fear the Lord may fitly be count- 
ed his jewels ; they are a certain known number, precious-* 
in his eyes, and which he hath purchafed at a very high 
r^te ; be fides their real beauty and worthy confidered as 
faints, his care to preferve them, the honor they do him 
b(i>thnow and hereafter, and, in a word, his determination 
to enjoy them forever ; thefe are fufficient to juftify, yea, 
and finely illuftrate the propriety of the metaphor. 

Now- thefe jewels are united in the purpofe of the Fa- 
ther; their names are together in the Lamb's book of 
life ; they are from the beginning, before God, in a myf- 
tioal union with Chrift, who is the head of his body the 
church, and of the flock committed to the charge of Jefus, 
the fliepherd and biihop of fouls; nevoithelefs it appears 
that for a feafon they lie in a fcatteredand divided con- 
dition, and that in the following refpe6ls, 

I. In the period of their aftual exiftcnce. The all- 
cpmprehenfive mind of the infinite Jehovah, from eterui- 



38z CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

ty viewed the objefts of his love, and chofe them at once, 
but they are produced by degrees, both in nature and 
grace ; in refpeft of the former, which is the point before 
ffle, they defcend by ordinary generation from Adam, and 
are brought forth, fome in one age and fome in another ; 
hence they are as it were difperled in different ages and 
nations of the world, from the creation to the diflolution 
of the heavens and the earth. This natural divifion or 
ieparation in time, no doubt is under the condudl of Infi- 
nite wifdom ; and in the day when he makes up his jewels 
will turn out to the glory of God, and the fatisfadion and 
joy of his laiiits. Again, 

2. Thefe chofen, who are cotemporaries in this world, 
are fcattered abroad in the earth j the bounds of their 
habitations are fixed in common with others, and it is 
probable in fome inftances, with a fpecial view, fubfer- 
vient to the purpofe of divine grace, for many have been 
called in confequence of their fituation ; however the 
children oFGod are locally difperfed, fome in one place, 
and others elfewhere, infomuch that few of them co9i- 
parativeiy can affemble together and have perfonal and 
frequent interviews ; hence a particular church-ftate is 
appointed, and needful to the fupport of focial religion. 
The like might be obferved in refpe<9; of their different 
ftations and circumllances in the prefent life ; but, in 
death they are ftill more divided. Under the dominion 
of this lafl and great enemy, for a while, they are not on- 
ly feparated from others, but each individual is in a ftate 
of difperfion ; his fpirit is gathered to the throne of God 
and of the Lamb, while the tabernacle of his body, hav- 
ing feen corruption, is diffolved into aihes and duft ; and 
thus thefe bodies lie fcattered in the grave till the morn- 
ing of the refurreftion. In fliort, if we take a general 
view of the people whom the Lord hath fet apart for 
himfelf, and who are ftiled his jewels, as they appear in 
the glais of the word, at tlue inftant period we fliall behold 
an innumerable multitude already pafTed through the re- 
volutions of time, who are through faith and patience 
inheriting the promifes. In the unfeen and eternal woyld, 



m THE DAYS OF MALACHI. 383 

as already obferved, they are in a kind 6f perfonal difper- 
fion, their bodies and fouls being at prefent in a ftate of 
reparation ; we fliall likewife fee many now living, who 
may be confidered as called, or in a ftatQ of nature, for 
though revelation doth not difcover the particular velfels 
of mercy, while in the kingdom of darknefs, yet they bear 
witnefs to a chofen feed who (hall be faved in every age 
and generation, fo that we have a general and certain 
knowledge of faith, that, befides viftble faints, there are 
fome of thefe jewels exiftingon the earth, who furely Ihall 
be gathered, though the number of fuch which remain ia 
any period, or any individual of thera, is rcferved till the 
appointed time of converlion. And further, if we look 
forward, it appears from the word of the Lord, that there 
are children yet unborn, who fhall in fucceeding ages be 
a feed to ferve him, and that in the latter day a gloriosas 
harveft (hall be gathered, both of Jews and Gentiles, And 
finally, that at the revelation of Chrift, though the greater 
number of thefe precious faints will be gathered from 
their graves, fome will defcend with him in their glori- 
fied bodies from heaven, and at the fame time not a few 
will be found alive on the earth. Thus divided are the 
peculiar treafure of the Lord in time, under providence, 
through the univerfe, in every generation, paft, prefent, 
and to come ; fome dead, fome alive, fome yet rebelling 
in the kingdom of Satan, while others are reduced to the 
obedience of faith, and are rejoicing in the Lord as their 
God ; and when the laft trumpet founds, the eled (ball 
be gathered from heaven, earth, and hell, or the grave ; 
but, however difperfed, they are fecureand forth coming. 
The Lord will certainly make up thefe jewels ; their 
number (liall be compleated, and not one fliail be wanting, 
when he appears in his glory; of which blelTed hope the 
following particulars are a full confirmation : 

t. It hath already been fliewn that they are his chofea 
dear property ; he hath fet his love upon them, fhed his 
blood for them ; they are his treafure and his glory as 
Mediator, and will he fuffer one of thefeto be loll f What 
man would lofe a jewel of his treafure, or fuifer it tg lie 



g§4 CONDUCT OF THE PAITJIFUL 

in a total and final obfcurity ? The delight the Lord hatn 
in his people, and efpecially when joined to his purchafe,. 
is an abundant fecurity fot their being gathered to him* 
felf in due time. And, ' 

2. If thefe are Hot made up, the end of his choofing 
&nd redeeming them is loft. It was to fhew the riches 
fef his glory, that thefe veffels of mercy were felefted and 
3:anfomed; the ultimate view of all this grace, is th€ ho- 
nor of God, in the perfe£lion of his people; this was 
the end of the divine counfel from evevlaftrng ■; fpi 
this purpole the Father chofe his fsiints in Chrift, and 
conftituted his Son the head of the church, and the Sa- 
viour .of the body. Agreeable to this, Chrift having 
Jovedhis church, gave himfelf for her, that he mightpre- 
fent her to himfelf a glorious church, Eph. v. 27. But 
this will not be accomplidied while a jewel is miflingi 
there would then be a defed or Ithifm in the body, nor 
will the glory or happinefs of any one faint be abfolutely, 
and in all refpe6ls compleat, till the whole eledion of 
grace appear united in one body, and each member finiiied 
and fet in his place* In a word, Jefus died " that he 
t' might gather together in one, the children of God that 
^' were fcattered abroad," John xi. 52. Not only thofe 
of the nation of the Jews, but lalfo the chofen among the 
Gentiles : fo that if any one is left behind, Chrift died irt 
Vahi ; a notion to be utterly rejed^d. See Gal* ii. 21.' 
But again, 

• 3. Of this the believer hath an ^ameft in his effeiluaf 
ealling* Every chriftiah may fafely argue from the be- 
ginning to the completion of a divine work in- his foul, 
FhiL i, 6. Shall the Almighty forfake his own wofk, or 
leave it unfiniflied? It cannot be decently fuppofed. — 
What fhould hinder the Lord from making up, or, as 
the word imports, finiftiing any one of his jewels, wliieh 
he hath fet apart, redeemed, and called by his grace 1 Not 
the unworthinefs of the fubje£l, nor any, however Teem- 
ing unfurmountable, difficulties that lie in the way, feeing 
what he hath already doije with refpe<^ to this chofen 



IN THE^ DAYS OF MALACHL 38^ 

veffel of mercy, and efpecially in turning him from dark- 
nefs to light, and flaying the enmity of his mind ; this I 
fay is no lefs, if not a greater inftance of grace and power 
than is required unto the perfection of him who is already 
waflied and fand\ified ; nor can any reafon be given \vhy 
the unchangeaole and living God fliould fuffer his mercy 
to fail, contrary to his folemn engagements to maintain it 
for ever.- He then who hath been gathered by the hand 
of the Lord out of the world, and is numbered with them 
who are fan6lified by faith, may be alTured that they fhall 
be made up, and counted among his jewels at laft, and 
efpecially when we eonfider further, 

4. The infinite perfe6lion and glorious power of the 
moft High, with whom all things are poffible. Thefe 
have already been difplayed in their exigence and conver- 
fion; 1 1^. is highly unreafonable to' queftion whether he 
that, created his people, and redeemed them from the do- 
minion of fm and the power of Satan, can make them per- 
fe£l in holinefs, and prefent them fauklefs, arid finifhed, 
in the day of his appearance, and equally abfurd to ima- 
gine that any thing needful to compleat the faints, can lie 
put of the reach of unfearchable Wifdom and divine Om- 
nipotence ; nothing of thefe jewels, however difperfed, is 
hid from the Lord, or beyond the reach of his arm ; their 
behig made up carries in it the refurreClion of their bodies, 
which at prefent, as we have feen, are diffolved and fcat- 
tered in the grave, infomuch that to an eye of fenfe, their 
return feems impoflible, yet reafon proclaims that God is 
able to raife the dead ; we are indebted to the gofpel for 
this light of life and immortality from death, yet reafon 
is not more incapable of difcovering this redemption of 
the body, to which the faints are adopted, than it is for- 
ward to atteft its credibility, on the teftimony of God. 
So then, the affeClion the Lord hath for his people, the 
end of his choice, his purchafe, and what he hath already 
done for, and wrought in them, and his almighty power, 
and other perfe£lions, leave no room to queflion but that 
he will make ujt bis jewels, according to the word of his 
grace, 

A ft a 



m^. 



3U CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL 

' t^or is the hope of that mercy which ftands conne<aeJ 
with the glory to be revealed on the faints, in the day of 
Chrift, lefs certain. Its foundation is laid in the fubftitu* 
lion and fufferings of the Son of God in their ftead; all 
their iniquity was laid on him, and he bore away their fms 
by the facrifice of himfelf. If God fpared not his own Son, 
and Chrift died for them, the faithful may be affured that 
t^y ftiall be fpared in the day of his wrath ; furely in 
the floods of great Waters they fhall not come nigh unto 
them ; the Redeemer is their hiding place, and will com- 
pafs them about with fongs of deliverance ; this may alfo 
be gathered from the compailion already exercifed to- 
wards them when in a ftate of death and condemnation ; 
he that patiently endured their enmity and rebellion, and 
J^lucked them as brands from the fire, will furely have 
mercy on ihem, and fpare them in the day of his wrath ; 
befides, they are covered with the robe of his righteouf- 
nefs, and waflied in his blood; the righteoufnefs of God, 
is upon them, and being now juftified freely by his grace, 
they fliall doubtlels be faved from wrath through him, 
Rom. v. 9. Yea, and further, the experience of the chrlft- 
ian confirms it. Indeed the patience and goodnefs of the 
Lord in his providence, is no fecurity againft the ven- 
geance of the Almighty, who endures with much long-fuf- 
fering the velfels of wrath ; yet, alas, how often do finners 
prefume on an efcape, becaufe the execution of their fen- 
tence hath not taken place ; but the prefent mercy and 
favor of God in a way of fpecial grace to his called, af- 
certains this bleffed aflurance, the gift of his Spirit, the 
light of his countenance, their communion with God at 
any time in his ordinances, their freedom of acceis to him 
as their Father, and in a word, every inflance of fpiritual 
fjpply, or promife applied to their heart, is an evident to- 
ken, or rather a tafte and earneft, of that mercy the righ- 
teous lliali obtain at the coming of Chrift ; fo that there 
is not the lealt room to hefitate their being fpared by the 
Lord in the day when he makes up his jewels, even as a 
man fpareth his own fon that ferveth him. 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHL 387 

Now, that the honor and glory of being, owned of the 
JLiORD, and fpared as a dear and dutiful fon, is l^eyond all ex- 
preffion, and that it will turn out an ample reward for the 
tribulation and tears of his faithful difciples, in a time of 
general apollacy, appears from the promlfe itfelf. No 
pther confideration is offered to fatisfy and encourage his 
fuffering people under the fore temptations which befal 
them. The Lord doth not fay, I will now avenge my- 
felf on the ungodly who profane my Name, and de^ife 
them who fear me ; or, I will immediately defcend as the 
jdew on Ifrael, and remove the occaGons of her forrow, 
which is fometimes the pafe, at tlie interceflion of his 
mourners, but here is no abfolute promlfe of any alteratio]r> 
for the prefent, all that is propofed to animate and com- 
fort thefe gracious and afflidled fouls is, that they Ihould be 
his, and that he would fpare them in the day of his com- 
ing ; but the divine Wifdom and Goodneis would not 
Jeave the righteous without a fufficient reward ; we may 
therefore be aifured that in the accomplifhment of this 
promife they iliall find a full recompence for all the felf- 
denial and grief to which their piety may have expofed 
them. To this agrees the exprefs declaration of our Sa- 
viour and his infpired apoftles, and alfo the judgment of 
the fairhfui in all generations. Mofes chofe to fuffer af- 
fii6lion with the people of God, and evenefteemed the re- 
proach of Chrift, greater riches than the treafures of fi'.gypt, 
having refpeft to this recompence of reward. And we 
read of many, who being tortured, would not accept deli- 
verance, on the condition of refigning their hope, that they 
might obtain a better refurre^tion, Heb. xi. If the h«- 
nor and joy of the faints at the day of Chrift will not abun- 
'■ (dantly compenfate for all the Oiameand forrow which they 
may endure in this world for his Name's fake, thefe wor- 
tliies were certainly under a delufion, and of all men moft 
miferable ; but " we know our light affliction, which is but 
" for a moment, worketh for us a far moro^xceediflg and 
*' eternal weight of glory," fo that we may^pftly '' reckon 
" that the fufferings of this prefent time are not worthy 
*' to be compared with the glory, which fliall be revealed 
" in us."" Compare 2, Cor. iv. 17, with Rom. viii. i.3 



3 



388 CONDUCT: OF THh lAITHFUL 

Of this reward many, whofe trials have bean great, hav^ 

had a joyful earneft in the witnefs of the Spirit, and the 

folace they haye found in the boufe of the Lord ; they 

who have endured the moil for the teftimony of their con- 

fcience will acknowledge that the pleafures of fellowlhip 

with God, and the fatisfa£lion theyliave found in the com- 

^munications of his grace, and efpe.cially when they behold 

themfelves in Ghrift, through the Spirit of adoption ; theii: 

delight and joy in God have far over-balanced the pain 

and difgrace of their bufferings. Thus David, from his 

paft experience in the fan£luary, rejoices in this expe^latir 

on, faying, " My mouth fliall be fatisfied as with marrow 

** and fatnefs," Pfalm Jxiii. 5. and many like inftances 

might be produced. Now if believers are fo abundantly 

fatisfied in what they at prefent enjoy, and find fuch am* 

pie return for the felf -denial they are called to for the fake 

of religion in their experience of the love of God in this 

world, what muft be their glory and joy on being made up 

and finiflied in the laft and great day ? To be the, Lord'^, 

and to be numbered with his jewels, when he appears in 

his kingdom, jnnft be an honor and reward, of which they 

who attain^o the higheft degree of knowledge in the pre-r 

Cent ilate, ean'fprm no adequate conception. " It doth not 

*^ yetappeariji^ith theapoftle, what we ihall be,".i John 

|H^ , 2; But wierHiay foberly conclude that the reward of 

this inheritance wijl exceed the higheft expe£lation of the 

Tuoft eminent faint on earth, and it may be of thofe who 

.5n afeparate ftate are already admitted to the throne in 

the heavens, however it certainly paffeth the underftand- 

ing of every mortal, and will fill the happy fubje6Vs 

with triumph and praife '* unto him that loved them, and 

** wafhed them from their fins in his own blood, and made 

♦' them kings and priefts jinto God, and his Father." 

Hov/ melancholy and miferable the cafe of thofe, whom 
the Lord wijl rejeft, or leave behind in the day when be 
makes up his jewels ? If it is the peculiar privilege of the 
righteous to be bis, and to be fpared in that awful day of 
decifion and juflice, let the Chrifllel's fmner beware ; God 
will not fpare thee^ but will execute the fiercenefs of his 



IN THE DAYS OF MALACHL 389 

anger I O how unconcerned are many about an intereft in 
Chrift, and being gathered with his peculiar treafure at his 
coming ; they confider not the vengeance he will then take 
on them whodifobey him. It were better, Reader, thou 
badft never been born or exifted, than not be found among 
the Lord's jewels at the feafon referred to; when they 
ftiall ihine forth in their beauty, afcend up to glory, and 
poflefsthe everlalling kingdom of the father, ftiame (hall 
cover unbelievers, who will be then, O tremble, ye care- 
iefs ones i caft into the lake of fire, and lie dowa in forrow 
and darknefs for ever 1 ; • ■ 

But, art thou, dear Friend, waiting for the hope of 
righteoufnefs by faith ? Haft thou found the Pearl of great 
price? Is Chrift thy dependence and delight, and exceed- 
ing precious to thy foul, lb that all things are as nothing 
compared with his excellency and grace? Is his name fo 
dear, that it occupies the thoughts of thine heart ? And 
art thou grieved at the contempt caft upon it by the un- 
godly, and when licentious profeflbrs difgrace it ? Thefe 
are genuine fymptoms of that holy fear which belongs to 
the children of God; and they who thus- think on the 
Name of the Lord, are entitled to expea the honor dt 
being Chrift's at his coming. And, Reader, is this thine 
experience ? Doth thine heart rejoice in profpecl of being 
found among the people of the Lord, before the Father 
and his angels in the day of revelation ? Manifeft this ia 
thy profeffed fubjeclion to the gofpel of Chrift. Can any 
man, with reafon, be looked upon as a fuccefsful candidate 
ior the glory and joy of being the Lord's when he makes up 
»his jewels, to whom it is an indifferent matter, whether h& 
-^pears to be his among men, or who will not confefs hiih 
on earth. The importance, credit, and advantage of a pub- 
lic acknowledgment and woiihip of Jefus, has been a prin- 
cipal defign of thefe papers, how far they may fucceed 
will hereafter appear ; but I think it muft be allowed ai* 
awkard and inconfiftent part, for a perfon to boaft in the 
view of being numbered with the faints in the day of re- 
velation, and at the fame time allow himfelf to be name- 
lefs among them in the fight of mankind. Is it not ftrange, 



599 CONDUCT OF THE FAITHFUL, &c, 

that he who expe^ls to be owned, fpared and glorified, as 
& viiible member of Chrift in the univerfal affembly, at th^ 
tribunal of God,{hould not think it his diity and honor tp 
be openly joined to the Lord and his people, or that b^ 
iliould not. be aibamed to live feparate from the vifible heirp 
of falvation ? One would think it almoft impoffible that a 
man whofe heart is fixed in the hope of being revealed in 
the church triumphant, could reft fhort of appearing in the 
church in her militant ftate ; it is a conduct fo ungrateful, 
not to lay abfurd, a fenfible perfon will blufh to find in 
liimf'3lf, and it is hoped will repent; however, this is cer- 
tain that nothing can be more unreafonable than to pre- 
fume we fball appear with Chrift in glory, when he is reveal- 
ed from heaven, in a negled of his honor on earth ; and it 
becomes thofe who amufe themfelves with this expe^atio^ 
to lee if it ftands fupported by the teftimony of God, for 
an hope void of that foundation will furely deceive. 

And now, Beloved, I take my farewel, with an earncQ: 
exhortation to my own foul and your's. Prefs forward, 
and haften to the coming of the Lord. Blelfed is the 
hope of his fecond ap|3earance ! A day awful and fatal to 
ujc wicKea, wno inall be utterly confumed, but oh how 
delightful to the righteous who fear him. . Then will their 
eternal glory commence ; when every jewel (bail be finilh- 
cd, difpofed and fet in the moft beautiful point of light, and, 
the number of the ele6l, being accomplifhed, the adorable 
Redeemer will prefent his beloved church, faultlefs before 
the prefence of his glory, with exceeding joy. Animated 
with this divine hope, may all my dear Readers, with their 
unworthy writer, keep themfelves in the love of God, look- 
ing for the mercies of our Lord Jefus Chrift unto eternal 
life ; who is over all, God blelTed for ^ver. Amen. 




267 90 








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